ink 

© 

I 

OR, 

COMPENDIOUS VIEW 

of 

SCRIPTURE HISTORY. 

CONTAINING 

A FAITHFUL NARRATION 

OF 

ALL THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS 

RECORDED IN 

THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS* 

FROM THE 

CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 

WITH 

A CONTINUATION, 

"From that Period to the final Destruction of Jerusalem by the 
Romans. 

Designed for the mental improvement of youth, an$ 
particularly adapted to the use of schools* 

By the Rev, THOMAS SMITH, 

AUTHOR OF THE UNIVERSAL ATLAS, &C. &C. 
iFIrst American Edition: to which is added a copious IndeK, not in the 
English copy. 




BOSTON. 
Published by SAMUEL H. PARKER 5 

NO. 6, SOUTH SIDE ; COURT STREET. 
PRINTED BY S. ETHERIDGE, 

1806. 



£1 <o b 



s£ 






/ 



PREFACE. 



/ 




J\T a period marked by bold innovation, and tinc- 
tured with a spirit of infidelity, it is certainly incumbent 
on every member of, or well wisher to the church of 
God, to make a vigorous exertion for the promulgation 
of that Gospel on which the Christian Religion is hap- 
pily founded, and which demands aur utmost reverence, 
as the only true guide to eternal life. 

Impressed with this idea, and anxious to render ail 
important service to the rising generation, whose ten- 
der minds, and expanding faculties, require the most 
delicate and unremitting attention, to preserve them 
from the contagion of vice, I have endeavoured to 'al- 
lure them to the study of the Scriptures, by a brief but 
connected view of the Sacred History ; which, I trust, 
may not only excite their curiosity, but enlighten their 
understandings, and influence their conduct. It is gen- 
erally acknowledged that " example strikes where pre- 
cept fails," and it is possible that, in perusing the fol- 
lowing sheets, my young readers may verify the asser- 



|V PREFACE. 

tion ; their hearts may probably be interested in the 
fate of Israel, and their unfeigned gratitude may either 
lead them to, or establish tHem in the worship of Is-. 
raers God^ 

As I have endeavoured to. render my little history 
perspicuous and entertaining, by dividing it into dis- 
tinct epochs, or periods of time, and preserving the 
thread of my narration unbroken, so I have been careful 
to give the dates of important occurrences, and haves 
taken every opportunity of obviating such apparent con-^ 
tradictions as are sometimes brought forward by proflU 
gate and unthinking Atheists, to invalidate the truth o£ 
divine revelation. 

The chapter which is designed to form a connecting 
link between the histories of the Old and New Testae 
ments, and that which carries on the narration from the 
death of St. Paul to the awful accomplishment of our Sa- 
viour's predictions, in the destruction of Jerusalem by 
the Romans, have been carefully compiled from Jose-. 
phus,.Dr. Prideaux, the English Universal History, 
$nd other works of established celebrity ; and will, I 
humbly hope, be found of real utility. 

Conscious of the necessity of insisting upon the fun* 
damentals of Christianity in a work of this nature, I have 
frequently endeavoured to impress my readers with suiU 
able ideas of the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Jesua 



PHEFACK. W 

Christ, and the infallible miracles by which our holy 
faith was first planted in the world ; and I earnestly 
pray that the Spirit of God may so enlighten theirunder- 
standings that they may not only read, but mark, learn, 
and inwardly digest those objects of eternal moment. 

Far from wishing to depreciate the labours of my able 
predecessors, who have written u^on the '.bam of the 
following work, I cheerfully affirm, that they have de- 
served the sweet remuneration of public applause ; and 
1 sincerely hope that future generations will rise trjf 
and caH them blessed. But as some of their valuable 
works are too expensive for the generality of pupils in" 
small academies, and others are rendered* uninvitiiigi>y" 
being thrown into the form of a catechism, I have pre- 
sumed to offer a little work on a different plan, which, 
from its compressed sise, may be purchased by all ranks 5 
and which, it is hoped, may prove equally acceptable 
to youth, and to persons of maturer age, who wish for 
a perspicuous and uninterrupted view of the history of 
the Bible, and the final catastrophe of the Jewish me*- 
tropolis^ 

Should it be objected that I have passed over most 
of the Jewish ceremonies, together with the lives and 
transactions of many prophets and pious men, in silence, 
I beg leave to remind my readers, that this omission 
was indispensably necessary, to avoid frequent digrea* 



71 PREFACE, 

sions ; and must not be imputed to carelessness or in* 
attention. 

As my only designs in compiling the " Sacred Mir- 
ror," are to fortify our youth against the growing errors 
of scepticism ; to show them, as in a glass, the por- 
traits of good and wicked men ; to bring them into an 
intimate acquaintance with the lively oracles of truth ; 
and to allure them insensibly to the practice of virtue, 
I certainly hope that it will be perused with impartiality, 
and judged with candor. The known generosity of 
a British public, and the general character of our 
learned and justly esteemed Reviewers, encourages me 
in this expectation : I have, therefore, only to submit 
my labours to their examination, and to pray that the 
Father of Lights may crown them with his holy ben* 
ediction. 

THOMAS SMITH. 

4pril7th, 1803. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

From the Creation to the Deluge, - . - 1 

CHAPTER II. 

From the Deluge to the Confusion of Languages at 

Babel, 14 

CHAPTER III. 

From the Confusion of Languages to the Birth of 

Moses, - - - 19 

CHAPTER IV. 

From the Birth of Moses to the Conquest of Canaan 

by the Israelites, - ... 57 

CHAPTER V. 

From the Conquest of Canaan by the Israelites^ to the 
commencement of their Monarchical Government^ 1 13 

CHAPTER VI. 

From the commencement of the Monarchical Govern- 
ment among the Israelites, to the revolt of ten 
Tribes under Jeroboam, - - 136 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Kingdom of Israel, from its Foundation by Jero* 
boam, to its Dissolution by Shalmaneser, King 
of Assyria* 2 .Z Z z }fy 



CONTENTS* ViS 

CHAPTER VIII. 

hthe Kingdom of Judah, from the Accession of Reho- 

boam, to its final Catastrofihe undtr Zedekiah, 185 

CHAPTER IX. 

JFrom the Return of the Jews out of Babylon, to the 

Death of Jsfehemiah, » -» *. -* 205 

CHAPTER. X. 

"Continuation of the Jewish Affairs, from the end of the 
Old Testament, to the Birth of our Saviour, 214 

CHAPTER. XL 

From the birth to the Ascension of Jesus Christ, - 24$ 

CHAPTER. XII. 

From the Ascension of our Saviour, to the Death of 

St. Paul, - 276 

CHAPTER. XIII. 

Continuation of the Jewish History, from the Death of 
St. Paul, to the final Destruction of Jerusalem 
by the Romans^ •» *- * - » 292 



THE 



SACRED MIRROR. 



CHAPTER I. 

From the Creation to the Deluge. 

X HE first idea given, by the inspired historian, 
respecting our habitable globe, is that of a rude chaos. 
" The earth, 5 ' says he, " was without form, and void ; 
and darkness was upon the face of the great deep." 
But, by the operation of the Spirit of God, which is 
expressly said to have moved upon the face of the 
waters, this confused mass was gradually separated, 
harmonized, and wrought into that beautiful variety of 
appearance which, from the earliest ages to the present 
period, has filled the breast of every pious individual 
with sentiments of mingled gratitude, wonder, and ad- 
miration . 

The Adorable Being, who, in the Old Testament, is 
designated by the sacred epithets GOD, JEHOVAH, 
and the great I AM, but who, in later ages, has revealed 
himself more fully in the person of his coequal and cc- 
ttcrnal son Jesus Christ, first commanded the light to 
shine out of darkness, and, by his eternal fiat, produced 
a glorious day ; not merely as introductory to his other 



2 FROM THE CREATION 

great works, or as a symbol of his own purity, but as 
typical of that radiance which, in the fulness of time, 
should arise upon the sons of men, and disperse the dark 
clouds of error and superstition. 

Subsequent to this effect of creative power, the firma- 
ment, or lower heaven, was expanded to divide the 
upper from the lower waters ; the floods unanimously 
rushed into their appointed bed, and received the appel- 
lation of seas ; and the dry land (now distinguished by 
the name of earth,) was suddenly crowned with a ver- 
dant man tle,enriched with innumerable trees and shrubs, 
and embroidered with flowers of every tint and frag- 
rance. The beauteous canopy of heaven was, also, 
spangled with myriads of stars ; and the sun and moon, 
those greater luminaries, were so disposed as to enlight- 
en the newly created world, to divide the revolving sea- 
sons, and to form a perpetual distinction between day 
and night. 

The waters were next replenished with an abundant 
variety of fish, and aquatic animals ; the birds of the 
air, starting into existence, hailed, with mellifluous 
songs, their Maker's goodness ; and the teeming earth 
brought forth abundantly her appropriate tribes. Lastly, 
to complete his e;reat design, and eclipse the glcry of all 
his preceding works, God created man in bis own image, 
out of the dust of the ground, and infused into his nostrils 
the breath of immortality, in consequence of which 
Moses asserts that M man became a living soul." This 
favourite of the Deity was immediately invested with un- 
limited authority over every other created being and 
substance, and a suitable companion was formed for him- 
self out of his own side, wherefore he gave her the appel- 
lation of woman, saying, " this is now bone of my bone, 



TO THE DELUGE O 

and flesh of my ftesh : she shall be called woman, be- 
cause she was taken out of man." 

Thus, by the miraculous operation of the Holy Trin- 
ity* were the heavens and the earth created, in the 
space of six days, when such harmony pervaded each 
constituent part, and such exquisite beauty glowed 
upon the universal face of nature, that the Omnipotent 
Architect pronounced it very good, andf all the morning 
stars sang together. On the seventh day God rested 
from all his works, and instituted that sabbath which 
was ever afterward kept holy by the true worshippers. 

Our first progenitors, Adam and Eve, were now plac- 
ed in the garden of Eden, with instructions to dress and 
keep it, and with full permission to eat of all the fruits 
with which it abounded, except of the tree of know- 
ledge of good and evil, from which they were com- 
manded to abstain, on penalty of inevitable death. The 
Deity himself vouchsafed to honor this delightful abode 
with his immediate presence ; the fowls of the air, and 
the beasts of the fkld 3 were here brought to receive their 
respective names from their highly favoured master ; 
and the objects of divine love were equally happy in 
their native innocence, and their total ignorance of evil. 

This felicity, however, was soon interrupted and effec- 
tually destroyed by Satan ; who, under the form of a 

* As we have already observed, that God created the hea- 
vens, and the earth, and that the Spirit of God moved upon 
the face of the waters, it is only necessary to remind our rea- 
ders, in this place, that the Word (Jesus Christ) was in th« 
beginning with God ; that all things were made by him, and 
that without him was not any thing made that was made. See 
the gospel of St. John, chap i. verses 2, 3, 

4~ See Job, chap, xxxviii. verse T- 



4 FROM THE CREATION 

serpent, persuaded Eve to violate her Creator's injunc- 
tion respecting the forbidden fruit, and to forfeit her ti- 
tle to immortality in the vain hope of obtaining a supe- 
rior degree of knowledge. " When the woman," says 
Moses, " saw that the tree was good for food, and that 
it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to 
make one wise,she took of the fruit and did eat, and gave 
also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. By 
this act of disobedience, the dispensation of innocence 
was annihilated ; virtue forsook the human bosom ; 
and man, together with his unborn posterity, became 
obnoxious to the wrath and punishment of an offended 
God. 
B. C- The eyes of our deluded progenitors were now 
4004. opened to a humiliating sense of their deprav- 
ity ; the consciousness of their nakedness overwhelmed 
them with confusion ; and instead of presenting them- 
selves as formerly, before the Object of their adoration,, 
they retired, to make themselves aprons of fig leaves, 
and to elude the anger of their Maker by concealment. 
This project, however, was of no avail ; for they were 
immediately alarmed by the voice of the Deity, and 
palled forth to answer for their transgression. In this 
exigence Adam attempted to extenuate his fault by 
charging his wife with the first breach of the command- 
ment, and Eve, with greater justice, accused the serpent 
as the cause of her misfortune, but at the same time 
acknowledged her transgression. " The serpent/' said 
she " beguiled me and I did eat." Hereupon the Al- 
mighty proceeded to pass judgment upon the offenders, 
of whom the serpent was doomed to endure the heaviest 
curse among beasts, to go upon his belly, to subsist upoa 
dust, and to maintain a perpetual enmity with the seed 



TO THE DELUGE. 5 

of the woman,* till the latter should eventually prove 
victorious ; the woman was condemned to bring forth 
her helpless progeny in pain and sorrow ; and Adam was 
sentenced to a life of toil and inquietude, in consequence 
of a curse which was imposed on the ground for his sake, 
God having declared that, on account of his disobe- 
dience, the earth should henceforth produce thorns and 
thistles, that in toil and sorrow he should eat the herb 
of the field, and that his body should finally return to 
the dust whence it was originally taken. After these 
awful declarations, the Creator graciously vouchsafed to 
clothe the unhappy pair with skins, and compelled them 
to quit the blissful abode of Paradise, lest, by rashly eat- 
ing of the fruit of the tree of life, they might elude the 
stroke of death, and entail upon themselves eternal sor- 
rows and infirmities, To obviate the possibility of such 
a circumstance, Adam was driven out, together with his 
fallen companion, to till the ground from whence he 
had been taken ; and a cherubim was placed at the east- 
ern extremity of Eden, with a flaming sword, that turn- 
ed every way, to guard the tree of life. 

To what part of the globe our first parents removed 
after their expulsion from Paradise, it is impossible to 
determine : but it is highly probable that Eve brought 
forth her firstborn, Cain, in the first year of the world, 
and her second, whom she named Abel, the year fol- 

* By this declaration, " I will put enmity between thee and 
the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise 
thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," the redemption of 
mankind was clearly predicted to be accomplished by Jesus 
Christ, who in due time was born of a woman, and who was 
manifested to destroy the works of the devil See Galatians m- 
4, and 1 John iii. 8. 

B 3 






6 FROM THE CREATION 

lowing. These persons, as they advanced to years of 
maturity, selected employments of a different nature ; 
the elder applying himself to the labours of tillage, and 
the younger undertaking the care of the flocks : their 
dispositions also were diametrically opposite ; for Cain 
was gloomy, revengeful, and avaricious ; Abel ingenu- 
ous and truly pious. 

The two brothers, in process of time, brought their 
respective offerings to the Almighty, but with very dif- 
ferent success ; for whilst the oblation of Abel, consist- 
ing of the finest* lambs of his flock, was graciously ac- 
cepted, the fruits of the earth, as offered by Cain, were 
totally disregarded. This circumstance wrought so 
powerfully on the mind of the firstborn that his coun- 
tenance is said to have fallen, and his heart was dilated 
with wrath. God, however, condescended to expostu- 
late upon the impropriety of this behaviour, and de- 
manded what reason he could adduce in his own justifi- 

* It is highly probable that sacrifices were first instituted by 
the Almighty in the garden of Eden, immediately upon the fall 
of our progenitors : for as the Deity then vouchsafed to prom- 
ise a. Saviour, who, in the fulness of time should redeem his 
people from their sins, we may reasonably suppose that he also 
instituted those oblations fur sin which were regularly offered 
m succeeding ages, till the great atonement made by the High 
Priest of our profession upon Mount Calvary.. 

I am also inclined to believe that God clothed Adam and 
Eve witli the skins of those beasts which were then sacrificed* 
to show the necessity of believers being clothed with the right- 
eousness of Jesus Christ, which himself, in the New Testa- 
ment, compares to a wedding garment ; and of which St. 
Paul energetically speaks, in his Epistle to the Philippians^ 
ehap. iii; ver. 9. 



TO THE DELUGE. 7 

cation, since if he acted justly he would assuredly be ac- 
cepted, and he could blame none but himself for the 
consequence of his own misconduct. The Deity also 
reminded him that he ought not to be incensed against 
Abel, who instead of attempting to injure or supplant 
him, would always pay him such respect as was due to 
an elder brother. " Unto thee," says the Divine speak- 
er, " shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." 
Cain, however, was so far from profiting by his Mak- 
er's admonition, that he resolved to murder his brother 
with the first convenient opportunity, and actually per- 
petrated the crime of fratricide whilst conversing with 
Abel in the fields. 

B. C. The assassin having thus gratified his revenge? 

33/5. anc j being questioned by the Deity respecting his 
brother, endeavoured to evade a confession of his crime, 
by asserting that he knew not what was become of him, 
and churlishly asking, If he was his brother's keeper. 
But he was soon convinced of the futility of this at- 
tempt, and his guilty soul was appalled, not only with 
a full discovery of his transgression, but with a sentence 
that doomed him to perpetual inquietude, remorse, and 
infamy. " Now," saith God, " art thou cursed from 
the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy 
brothers blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the 
ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her 
strength ; but a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be 
in the earth." This denunciation, though in reality 
milder than could have been expected, was deemed in- 
supportable by the criminal, who in the agony of grief 
exclaimed, " My punishment is greater than I can 
bear; for thou hast driven me out this day from the 
face of the earth ; and from thy face shall I be hid, and- 



T FROM THE CREATION 

1 shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and it 
shall come to pass that every* one that findeth me shall 
slay me." However, to obviate this dread of his fellow 
mortals, God declared that a sevenfold vengeance should 
fall upon any individual who attacked his life, and at the 
same time set a peculiarf mark upon him, as a protec- 
tion against such a circumstance. Hereupon Cain quit- 
ted the place of his nativity, and migrated into the land 
of Nod, where he founded a city which he called, after 

the name of his son, Enoch. 
33. c. Shortly after thh occurrence another son was 
3S74. born, to console our first parents for the loss of 

* As the enemies of revelation, and of our holy religion, ea- 
gerly embrace every opportunity of pointing out an apparent 
contradiction in the sacred writings, it seems necessary to ob- 
serve in this place, that, though Moses has only given the his- 
tories of Cain and Abel subsequent to the expulsion of our pro- 
genitors from Eden, and previously to the birth of Seth, yet, as 
a rapid increase of population was naturally attached to the lives 
of the antediluvians, who began to have children as early, and 
to leave off as late, in proportion, as men do now, and as many- 
generations which are successive with us, were contemporary be- 
fore the flood, the number of persons living, at once, upon the 
earth, must certainly have answered any defect that might rise 
from other circumstances. So that, by a moderate computa- 
tion on these principles, it will appear, that there was a consid- 
erable number of people in the world at the time of Abel's as- 
sassination. 

t Many persons have supposed, from this portion of sacred 
history, that Cain's complexion was changed to a hue conge- 
nial to the nature of his crime ; and have therefore regarded 
him as the progenitor of the blacks : but as only one family, 
viz. that of Noah, was preserved from the deluge, this opinion 
seems ill founded. Various other conjectures have been form- 
ed on the subject, but they axe all unworthy of notice, 



TG THE DELUGE. f 

their beloved Abel, wherefore Eve called his name Seth, 
or the appointed, " for," said she, " God hath appointed 
me another seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew." 

The inspired historian confining himself chiefly to the 
line of Seth, from whom Noah w T as descended, relates 
but few particulars respecting the posterity of Cain, ex- 
cept that some of them were the inventors of mechani- 
cal arts and musical instruments. Josephus, however, 
and other writers of great respectability have asserted 
that they were a reprobate and licentious people, totally 
regardless of their Creator, and wholly addicted to the 
gratification of their own impure passions, on which ac- 
count they were designated, in Holy Writ, by the epi- 
thets of men, and daughters of men, while the pious 
descendants of Seth were distinguished with the honor- 
ary appeiiation of the sons oj God. 

Of Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, and Jared, the proge- 
ny of Seth, Mo^es has taken no farther notice than to 
record their respective oirtns and ages : but Enoch, the 
son of Jared, appears to have been a person of such ex- 
emplary piety, that he is emphatically said to have walk- 
ed with God, and, after a well spent life of three hun- 
dred and sixty live years, he was translated to Heaven, 
whhout experiencing the bitter pan.us of death. This 
illustrious character seems to have been blessed with 
several children, of whom Methuselah, the eldest, at- 
tained to the age of nine hundred and sixty nine years. 
B C. Adam, having seen a numerous progeny issue 
3074. from his own loins, was at length obliged to bow 
before " the king of terrors," whom himself had intro- 
duced upon the earth by disobedience ; and, he accord- 
ingly, yielded up his soul into the hands of his Creator, 
after a life of nine hundred and thirty years. Various 



ID FROM THE CREATION 



conjectures have been formed respecting the place of hi 
sepulture, though none of them can be established, fo 
want of scriptural authority. Thus, St. Jerome asserts, 
that his remains were deposited in the cave of Mach- 
pelah ; the oriental christains say that he was embalm- 
ed by four of his descendants, and buried in a cave, on 
the summit of a mountain, which was afterward called 
the cave of Al Konuz ; and most of the primitive fa- 
thers suppose him to have been interred near that part 
of Mount Calvary where Jesus Christ, the second Adam^ 
made, by his voluntary offering of himself, a full, per- 
fect, and sufficient oblation and satisfaction, for the sins 
of the world. 

Religion seems to have been publicly and zealously- 
maintained for some generations in the family of Seth ; 
but, when men began to multiply on the face of the 
earth, and were, in all probability, straitened for want of 
room, an unfortunate junction took place between the 
righteous seed of this patriarch and the posterity of Cain, 
and matrimonial alliances ensued, which gradually es- 
tranged the hearts of the true worshippers from the per- 
formance of their duty, and eventually brought in a spirit 
of licentiousness, which provoked the indignation of the 
Most High, and occasioned the destruction of the old 
world by a tremendous deluge. " The sons of God," 
says Moses, " saw the daughters of men that they were 
fair ; and they took them wives of all which they 
chose." From these unfortunate marriages issued a 
generation which seems to have been equally famous 
for their extraordinary stature and impiety , these were 
called giatrs, and their descendants, who may be rea- 
sonably supposed to have followed the wicked and ty- 
rannic \\ conduct of their fathers, are distinguished by 
the epithets mighty nun and men of renown. 



: 



TO THE DELUGE. ll 

In this posture of affairs, while vice and profligacy- 
were daily gaining ground, and every religious duty was 
rapidly sinking into neglect, the Almighty determined 
to chastise mankind for their unrighteousness ; but he 
graciously allotted them one hundred and twenty years 
for repentance, mercifully observing-, that they were but 
flesh. As, however, they g ill continued incorrigible, 
and the friendly admonitions of* N u:i were totally dis- 
regarded, God :s emphatically said to hc.ve repented of 
the formation of such impenitent cr: ar j s, and to have 
decreed their destruction, together with that of the beasts 
of the field, and the fowls of the air. The Divine Jus- 
tice, however, was sweetly tempered with mercy, and a 
reservation was made, by which the earth might be re- 
plenished when the threatened deluge should subside. 
B. C. At the expiration of the hundred and twenty 
2348 f yeaca vhich God had allotted for the pr< bation 
of rebellious mortals, Noah was commanded to enter the 
ark, with his wife, his sons and his daughters in law, 
taking with him ail kinds of beasts, birds and reptiles, by 
pairs and by sevens, according to their respective na- 
tures, and in compliance with the Divine injunction ; 
wliile the residue of mankind treated the threatenings 
of their Maker with contempt, and continued in a state 
of careless security, eating and drinking, marrying and 
giving in marriage, until the day that the flood came 
and destroyed them all ; even to that memorable day 

* Amidst this general corruption of morals, Noah retained his 
integrity, and persevered in the worship of his Creator, where- 
fore he and his family found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and 
received instruction to build an ark, or large vessel, for the 
preservation of his own race, and of every species of living 1 
creatures. See Genesis vi. 14. 

i 



12 FROM THE CREATION 

when the fountains of the great deep were broken up, 
the windows of heaven were opened, and those over- 
whelming torrents began to fall, which continued fortyr 
days without abatement or intermission. The waters, 
thus brought upon the earth, from the heavens above and 
from the depths beneath, augmented gradually for the 
space of five months, when they rose to a considerable 
elevation above the tops of the highest mountains, and 
every living substance was destroyed which was up- 
on the face of the earth, except Noah and they that 
were with him in the ark.* 

The awful decree of Omnipotence being thus accom- 
plished, a wind was caused to pass over the earth, in 
consequence of which the flood began to assuage, and 
on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark 
rested on the mountains of Ararat. 

From this period, the waters subsided so rapidly, that, 
on V'Q first day of the tenth month, the tops of the hills 
began to appear ; and, towird the latter end of the ensu- 
ing month, Noah opened one of the windows in the ark, 
and let out a raven, which flew to and fro till the earth 
was dry, but brought him no satisfactory intelligence. 
He then sent forth a dove three times, intermitting 

* This vessel, supposed to have been built in the form of an 
oblong* square, with a flat bottom, and a sloping- roof elevated 
one cubit in the middle, is : 1 1 have consisted of three sto- 
ries, which were divided n to apartments, and properly sup- 
plied with light and air, by means of windows. Its dimen- 
sions, allowing the script i e cubk to contain 21,388 of our in- 
c 1 ;, were 547.2 Englis] feet long j 91.2 broad, and 54.^2 
hii Tl sug] it 1 ad neither sails- nor rudder, it was well 
adapted for Lying steadily on the water and consequently for. 
preserving the lives of its numerous inhabitants. 



Tfc THE DELUGE. 13 

seven days between each excursion. The first time she 
returned quickly, having found no resting place ; the 
second time she remained abroad till evening, and then 
brought an olive leaf in her mouth, as a proof that the 
waters were greatly subsided ; and the third time she 
returned no more. 

On the first day of the first month, answering to the 
twenty third of our October, Noah removed the cover- 
ing of his ark, in order to take a view of the circumja- 
cent scenery, and perceived that the earth was entirely 
cleared of the waters. He remained, however, on board 
the ark till the twenty seventh day of the second month, 
or the eighteenth of December, when he came forth, 
by his Maker's direction, with his family and all that 
were with him, having continued, with his various 
charge, under the especial protection of the Deity, for 
the space of one year and ten days, according to the an- 
tediluvian computation ; or, according to the present, 
three hundred and sixty five days. 

Thus was desolation brought upon the earth by the 
wickedness and impenitence of mankind : and thus was 
the love of God manifested in the preservation of the 
only family, consisting of eight persons, which retained 
the profession and practice of religion in the midst of 
universal licentiousness. 



u 



CHAPTER IL 

from the Deluge, to the confusion of Languages at Babel. 

B.C. A 

2347. XX.NXXOUS to express his gratitude for that 
distinguished act of mercy which had preserved his 
family from the recent judgment, Noah, immediately 
upon his debarkation, built an altar, and offered a sacri- 
fice of every clean beast and of every clean fowl. An 
action which proved so acceptable, that God is said to 
have smelled a sweet savour, and to have declared that 
he would no more curse the ground for man's sake ; but 
that it should enjoy an uninterrupted succession of sea- 
sons, till the period of its final dissolution. The pa- 
triarch and his family were also honoured with a solemn 
blessing, and received the Divine permission to appro- 
priate the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and 
the fishes of the sea to their own use, and to eat of them 
as freely as they had hitherto done of the herbs and 
fruits of the earth : they were, however, strictly en- 
joined to abstain from the blood of every living creature, 
to avoid shedding that of their fellow mortals, and to 
punish the crime of murder with death. 

The Deity, likewise condescended, on this memora- 
ble occasion, to make a covenant with the objects of 
his especial favour, respecting the future safety of the 
terraqueous globe, and promised as a token of his im- 
mutable determination, to set his bow in the clouds 
when it rained, that the sons of men might look on it, 
and remember the everlasting covenant between God 
and every living creature that moveth upon the earth. 



TROM THE DELUGE, &C. 15 

Noah, having received these inestimable marks of 
affection from the Great Object of his adoration, de- 
scended from the mountains of Ararat, whereon the ark 
had rested, and applied himself to the labours of hus- 
bandry. He also planted a vineyard, where, at the 
time of the vintage, he drank too freely of the inebriat- 
ing juice of the grape, and lay carelessly uncovered with- 
in his tent. In this disgraceful attitude he was discov- 
ered by his son Ham, who instantly ran to apprize his 
brothers of the circumstance, and to invite them to be- 
hold and ridicule the infirmity of their parent. Shem 
and Japhet, however, were too tenacious of ihe patri- 
arch's honor and their own obedience to comply with so 
improper a request ; and therefore, having provided 
themselves with a garment, they walked backwards and 
covered their father, with filial respect and decorum ; in 
consequence of which Noah, when he awoke, bestowed 
a solemn benediction upon them ; but denounced a 
dreadful curse against Canaan, the fourth sen of the 
offender, saying, " Cursed be Canaan, a * servant of 
servants shall he be unto his brethren. 5 ' 

* As we have already observed that some authors are in- 
clined to suppose Cain the progenitor of the blacks, on account 
of the mark which God set upon him; so many persons im- 
agine that the origin of that people may be traced to Canaan, 
on account of this singular and heavy curse. This point we 
shall leave to the private judgment of our readers : but it is 
proper to remark, that the curse was awfully accomplished in 
the extirpation or subjugation of the Canaanites by the Jews ; 
in the subsequent expeditions of the Assyrians and Persians ; 
in the memorable conquests achieved by the Greeks and Ro- 
mans in Phoenice and Palestine ; and in the total subversion of 
the Carthaginian state and people. 



16 FROM THE DELUGE 

No farther particulars are recorded respecting Noah, 
but that he died in the nine hundred and fiftieth year of 
his age. The Orientals; however, affirm that he was 
buried in Mesopotamia, where his sepulchre is still 
shown, in the vicinage of an edifice which is called 
Dalr Abnnah, or " the monastery of our father." 

As all mankind arc descended from the three sons of 
Noah, who were preserved from destruction by the 
merciful appointment of their Creator, it seems requi- 
site to sketch out some particulars concerning these 
persons, and their immediate descendants, not only for 
the instruction of our juvenile readers, but also to ren- 
der this department of cur work complete. 

Japhet, who appears to have been the eldest son of 
X ih, was blessed for his dutiful behaviour to his father, 
i : '.-.terms : " God shall enlarge Japhet, and he 
vt ;i; ..." dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be 
his servant. " This benediction seems to have been 
uttered in the spirit of prophecy, and has been fully 
completed in the great possessions which fell to the 
posterity of Japhet, viz. to Gomer, the father of the 
Gauls and Germans ; to Javan, the ancestor of the 
Greeks ; and to Meshech, the progenitor of the Mus- 
covites and other European nations. 

Shem, though the second son of Noah, seems to have 
had the right of primogeniture vested in him, and his 
posterity are twice recited by the inspired historian : but 
as the histories of these patriarchs are more brief than 
those of the descendants of Ham, nothing can be col- 
lected from scripture respecting them, except their ages 
and the time when they begat their sons, which merely 
enables us to collect the chronology of this period. The 
birth of Shem seems to have happened about the year 



TO THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES. 17 

of the world 1558, for at the birth of Arphaxad, two 
years after the flood, he is said to have been one hundred 
years old. He received a solemn blessing from Noah, 
as a remuneration of the dutiful action which he per- 
formed in conjunction with his brother Japhet, and died 
in the six hundredth year of his age, leaving behind him 
five sons : viz. Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and 
Aram, from whom sprang the Persians, the Assyrians, 
the Hebrews, the Syrians and other Asiatic nations. 

With respect to Ham, the youngest son of Noah, 
we have already remarked that he was cursed, for his 
irreverent conduct toward his father, not in his own 
person, but in a branch of his posterity. This curse, 
falling upon Canaan, rather than upon the offender him- 
self, has given rise to many conjectures and disputations 
among the learned, some of whom suppose that the 
patriarch expressed his resentment in this manner to 
avoid cursing Ham, whom God had recently blessed, 
on his landing from the ark ; and others imagine, with 
a greater appearance of reason, that Moses designed, 
by reciting this prediction, to show the Israelites that 
the people of Canaan laboured under an ancient curse, 
and consequently to prepare them for the destined sub- 
jugation of that idolatrous race. Of the transactions of 
Ham, subsequent to that disgraceful one which has been 
already noticed, nothing is recorded in the blessed vol- 
ume of inspiration. He appears, however, to have left 
four sons, Cush, M : zra:m, Phut and Canaan, who be- 
came the progenitors of the Ethiopians, Egyptians, 
Philistines and Canaanites, with other nations inhabit- 
ing Africa and Asia. 

B. c. Shortly after the demise of Noah, his three 
1996. sonS; Shem, Ham, and Japhet, removed with 
b 2 



13 *ROM THE DELUGE, &C. 

their respective families, from the neighbourhood of 
Ararat, and travelled from the east, till they arrived at 
an extensive plain in the land of Shinaar, where they: 
immediately resolved to take up their abode. In conr 
sequence of this determination, it was proposed to "build 
a city, and a tower whose top might reach to heaven, 
for the express purpose of preventing the dispersion of 
their families, and in order to make them a sign, or 
name, on the earth. Accordingly the foundations were 
laid, and the structure carried on to a considerable 
height, bricks supplying the want of stone, and slime, 
or bitumen, being used instead of mortar : but God, 
who, in infinite wisdom, had decreed the welfare of 
his creatures, by that identical circumstance which they 
so anxiously sought to elude, compelled the builders to 
relinquish their design, by introducing a total confusion 
of languages. The city immediately took the name of 
Babel, or confusion ; and the whole race of Noah, who 
had hitherto spoken one language, and lived in one 
great community, were scattered abroad upon the face 
of all the earth, as a requisite preliminary to the plants 
wg of commonwealths, states, and kingdoms, 



19 



CHAPTER III. 



From the confusion of Languages to the birth of ' Mose*. 

JL HE design of this work being, avowedly, to present 
our readers with a view of Scripture Histonj^ and such 
particulars as are indispensably necessary to connect or 
illustrate certain parts of the Old and New Testaments, 
we shall now follow the example of the inspired pen- 
man, in taking leave of all the patriarchs from whom 
the numerous tribes of gentiles descended, and in fixing 
our attention upon Abram, the son of Terah, who ap- 
pears to have been peculiarly favoured with the affec- 
tion of his Creator, and in whose family the true wor- 
ship was maintained, under various circumstances, till 
the coming of the Messiah. 
B.C. Abram, the illustrious progenitor of the Jewish 
1921. nation, appears to have been about seventy four 
years old when he removed, with his aged father Terah, 
his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot, from the place of 
his nativity into the land of Haran, where he had not 
long resided before Terah died, and he was commanded, 
by the Almighty, to depart into another country, where 
he should enjoy the especial protection of heaven, and 
experience such a wonderful increase, that, in his seed 
all the nations of the earth should he blessed. 

Obedient to this injunction, the patriarch removed^ 
with his family and servants, into Canaan, and built art 
altar to the Lord in the neighbourhood of SicJiem, where* 



20 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

he was honoured with* an appearance of the Deity,* and 
received a consolatary assurance that his descendants 
should, in process of time, possess the land in which he 
was now a stranger. A severe famine, however, which, 
occurred in Canaan, compelled him to seek a temporary 
residence in Egypt, and exposed him to some inconve- 
niencies on account of his wife, whose personal charms 
attracted the notice of Pharaoh ; but, the providence of 
God interfering on his behalf, Sarai was restored, with- 
out molestation to his arms, and a royal edict was pro- 
mulgated for his safe conduct out of the kingdom. 

Grateful for this deliverance, Abram returned to 
Bethel, where the famine had now ceased, and offered a 
sacrifice of thanksgiving upon the altar which he had 
erected during his former residence in that country. 
Meanwhile the great increase of his nephew's herds oc- 
casioned such contentions among the herdsmen, that he 
deemed it expedient to separate, and accordingly gave 
Lot the choice of removing to any part ox the country 
which he thought proper. Hereupon Let removed to 

* As frequent mention is made, in the Sacred Kistcny, of the 
appearance of the Supreme Being to his creatures, and as va- 
rious passages of scripture, imply that no man can see God and 
live, it may be necessary to remind our juvenile readers that, 
the glorious personage who appeared, under the old dispensa- 
tions of grace, to the patriarchs and prophets, -\vas Jesus 
Christ, the second person in the holy Trinity, who being in 
the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God ; 
of whom it is said that, " he both died, and rose, and revived, 
that he might be Lord both of the dead a?id living ;" and who is 
reverentially described, by St. Paul, as the uriglitness of God's 
glory and the express image of his person, upholding ail tilings by 
the word of his power. See Piulippians ii. chap, and 6 verse ; 
Romans xiv. chap, and 9 verse ; and Hebrews i. chap, and 
3 verse. 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 21 

Irfre fertile and irriguous plain of Jordan in the vicinage 
of Sodom ; and Abram pitched his tents in the land of 
Moreh, where he contracted a friendship with three of 
the wealthiest inhabitants, viz. Mamre, Aner, and Esh- 
col, who rendered him many important services. 
B. C. About seven years after the separation of Lot 
1912. am j Abram, the former was unfortunately taken 
prisoner, with all his family, by Chedorlaonver and his 
allies ; but Abram having engaged the assistance of his 
three friends, Mamre, Aner, and Eshcol, surprised the 
Conquerors, by night, at Dan ; pursued them to Hoba 
on the left of Damascus ; and brought the captives 
back, in triumph, to their own habitations. The king 
of Sodom was no sooner apprised of this gallant exploit 
than he came out to congratulate Abram upon his suc- 
cess, and to offer him ail the booty, as a remuneration 
for his timely assistance : the patriarch, however, nobly 
refused to accede to this proposal, and instead of accept- 
ing any recompense, presented Melchisedek, a priest of 
God, with tithes of all the spoils. 

Soon after this transaction, Abram removed to Mam- 
re, where he was indulged with a fifth vision of the Deity, 
and encouraged with fresh assurances of especial favour 
and protection. Hereupon he ventured to acknowledge 
that he was unable to comprehend how these repeated 
promises could be accomplished whilst he continued 
childless, and should, in all probability, be obliged to 
leave his substance to his steward, Eliezer. The Al- 
mighty then assured him that not Eliezer, but a son of 
his own should be his heir, and that his posterity should 
eventually become more numerous than the stars of 
heaven. As Abram, at this time, was eighty five years 
old, and Sarai, turned of seventy four, had been long 



22 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 



deemed barren, an ordinary faith might have been stag 
gered at such a declaration, but the scripture informs us 
that, " he believed in God, and it was imputed to him 
for righteousness. " He presumed, however, to demand 
a sign, and God readily granted his request. Abram, 
having killed a goat, a ram, and a young heifer, with a 
pigeon and turtle dove in obedience to his Maker's com- 
mand, divided the beasts, and then, joining the pieces, 
laid the birds upon them, whilst himself stayed to pro- 
tect the sacrifice from the fowls of the air. About sunset 
he was suddenly overpowered with sleep, and a horror 
of great darkness, during which it was revealed to him 
that his posterity should sojourn, and sustain many afflic- 
tions, in a strange land, for the space of four hundred 
years, at the expiration of which time God would take 
vengeance on their oppressors, and bring them safely 
into the land of promise. This important revelation was 
immediately followed by a vision of a smoking furnace, 
and a burning lamp, which glided between the victims, 
as a solemn ratification of the covenant made between 
God and the patriarch. " In that same day," says Mo- 
ses, " the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, 
unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of 
Egypt, unto the great river, the river Euphrates." 
g. C. Sarai, not suspecting that she was to become 
1911- the mother of the promised heir, and naturally 
judging herself, on account of her advanced age, to be 
past all possibility of gestation, gave her handmaid to 
Abram, in hope of becoming a mother by proxy, ac- 
cording to the custom of that age and country. Hagar, 
however, soon acted with such intolerable insolence, 
that her mistress broke out into bitter complaints against 
her? and finally treated her with such severity, that she 



is 



ro THE BIRTH OF MCSES. $$ 

fled from her presence, and wandered in the road to Sur, 
leading to Egypt ; till, weary and disconsolate, she sat 
down by a fountain. Here she was accosted by an an- 
gel, who persuaded her to return and submit herself to 
her mistress ; assuring her that she should soon bring 
forth a son, whom she should call Ishmael ; that his 
posterity would multiply exceedingly ; that they would 
prove extremely fierce and warlike ; that their hand 
should be against every man, and every man's hand 
against them ; and that they should dwell in the face 
of all their brethren. Encouraged by these assurances, 
Hagar called the place where she met the angel, Beer- 
lahairoi, or " the well of him who lives and sees me ;*' 
and returned to the house of Sarai ; where she soon 
gave birth to a male child, and named him Ishmael, ac- 
cording to the angel's direction. 

About thirteen years after this event, God vouchsafed 
to ratify his former covenant with the patriarch, by- 
changing his name from Abram to Abraham, assuring 
him that he should become the father of many nations ; 
that kings should proceed from him ; and that his de- 
scendants should certainly possess the land in which he 
now resided as a stranger. As a trial of his obedience, 
God commanded him to circumcise all the males in his 
family ; and, to complete his happiness, he informed 
him, that Sarai, whose name was now changed to Sa- 
rah, should bear him a son, who should inherit all these 
blessings. At this declaration Abraham fell upon his 
face, in order to conceal the irreverent laughter which 
resulted from the improbability of what he heard, and be- 
gan to intercede for the preservation of Ishmael,.whom 
he had hitherto considered, and brought up, as the heir 
of all his substance. The Deity, however, assured him* 



24 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

that these blessings were not designed for Ishmael, but 
for a child of his hitherto barren wife, whom he should 
name Isaac ; that Ishmael should, indeed, be blessed, 
and become the father of a great nation ; but that Isaac 
alone should be entitled to the covenant of promise. 
B. C. God had no sooner departed, than Abraham 
1897. obeyed the divine command relative to himself, 
and the other males of his family, and was, soon after- 
ward, honored with another visit, more remarkable than 
the former. Sitting one day under the umbrage of a 
tree near his tent, he beheld three persons, whom he sup- 
posed to be travellers, at a distance, and going toward 
them, invited them to partake of some refreshments. 
Having obtained their consent, he ordered a repast to 
be prepared; and in this interview received a fresh as- 
surance that Sarah should bear a son, within the year. 
Sarah, who appears to have listened at the tent door, 
burst out into laughter at this declaration ; and the 
stranger demanded the reason of her ill timed mirth in 
such a serious manner, that she was overwhelmed with 
confusion, and attempted to deny it ; but her divine 
guest convinced her, that it was impossible to hide any- 
thing from his observation, and reminded her that noth- 
ing was impossible with God. 

The heavenly visitors now rose up to pursue their 
journey, and Abraham accompanied them, till one of 
them, whom Moses calls the Lord, gave him to under- 
stand that the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah had ascend- 
ed to heaven, on account of the extreme depravity of 
their inhabitants, and that he was going down with a 
resolution to destroy them, if upon inquiry their wicked- 
ness should be found equal to the report of it. Abraham 
was no sooner apprized of this circumstance than the 



"TO THE BIRTH OF XOSES. 25 

recollection cf his nephew Lot, and a lively compassion 
for his fellow mortals, emboldened him to plead on be- 
half of such righteous persons as might possibly be 
found amongst the ungodly, and his humble solicita- 
tions were crowned with such success, that God declar- 
ed, if but ten just men were found in the place, he 
would lay aside his indignation for their sake. 

Toward the cool of the evening, two angels, who ap- 
pear to have been charged with the execution of the di- 
vine judgment, approached Sodom, and were invited to 
the house of Lot, w T hom they found sitting in the gate. 
They had scarcely, however, accepted his proffered hos- 
pitality, before a crowd of citizens assembled before the 
house, and demanded, in a tumultuous manner, that the 
strangers should be brought out to them. Lot, who w T as 
no stranger to their base intentions, endeavoured to ap- 
pease them by rational and persuasive arguments, and 
even proposed to sacrifice his own daughters to their 
licentiousness for the preservation of his guests : but 
as this offer was rejected with disdain, and Lot himself 
was threatened with violence, the angels suddenly drew 
their kind host into the house, shut the door, and struck 
the riotous multitude with blindness ; by which means 
their nefarious designs were rendered abortive. The 
angels next acquainted Lot with the nature of their 
commission, and exhorted him so earnestly to provide 
for the safety of all his friends and relatives, that he 
went, before day break, to his sons in law, and warned 
them cf the impending danger ; but they either disbe- 
lieved or contemned the news as unworthy of their no- 
tice, and positively refused to quit the city. 

The orient clouds were no sooner tinged with the 
rays of morning light, than the angels reminded Lot of 



26 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

\is perilous situation, and, on his appearing rather dila- 
tory, laid hold on him, together With his wife and daugh- 
ters, and brought them out of the city, urging them to 
flee with all imaginable precipitation to the mountains, 
and warning them not to look back, lest they should be 
involved in the general destruction. Lot considering 
his extreme danger, and fearing lest he should be una- 
able to reach the mountains, which were yet far distant, 
earnestly requested permission to retire to a small city, 
n the vicinage of Sodom, then called Bela, but after- 
Ward distinguished by the appellation of Zoar. This 
petition was mercifully granted, and he was command- 
ed to take refuge there immediately, as the divine judg- 
ment should n?t be executed till he had reached his 
asylum. Immediately after sunrise, Lot entered Zoar ; 
and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah were all 
destroyed by a dreadful shower of fire and brimstone 
Which God is emphatically said to have rained down 
from heaven. Lot's wife, also, having violated the an- 
e;e;'s injunction, and turned her eyes toward her former 
habitation, was instantly deprived of her existence, and 
changed into a pillar of salt, as an object of terror to the 
disobedient and unbelieving. 

Shortly after this memorable occurrence, Lot quitted 
Zoar, and took up his abode, with his two daughters, in 
a cave situated among the mountains on the east of the 
dead sea, or lake Asphaltites. In tin's sequestered 
dwelling, the young women, dreading lest they should 
die childless, which in that age was accounted the great- 
est reproach, laid a plan by which their father was de- 
ceived into the crime of incest, and they became the 
mothers of two children, from whom sprang the war- 
like nations of the Moabites and Ammonites, against 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 27 

the Israelites fought under Moses, Joshua, and other 
leaders, with various success. 

Abraham, having learned the sad fate of Sodom, from 
the smoke of the country which is said to have ascended 
like the smoke of a furnace, removed from Hebron in- 
to the land of the Philistines, where the same adven- 
ture happened to him as he had, on a former occasion, 
met with in Egypt ; for Abimelech, king of the Philis- 
tines, supposing Sarah to be the patriarch's sister, took 
her into his house, and secured her for his own bed. In 
consequence of an alarming dream, however, he returned 
her untouched to her husband, and loaded her with sev- 
eral considerable presents, after mildly rebuking Abra- 
ham for his want of confidence in the people among 
whom he had come to sojourn. 
B C Some time after this transaction, Abraham^ 

1896. w h h ac { R0W attained to the hundredth year of 
his age, received the accomplishment of his Maker's 
gracious promise, by the birth of Isaac, in whom God 
had predicted that* all the families of the earth should 
be blessed. The child of promise, having received the 
rite of circumcision, and been suckled by his exulting 
mother, was weaned at the customary time ; a feast 
was made to all the household on the joyous occasion ; 
and the venerable parents appear to have been in the 
zenith of happiness. This exquisite felicity was, indeed, 
damped, for some time, by Sarah's resolving to cast out 
Hagar and her offspring, who had both acted disrespect- 

* This promise was fully accomplished in the person and 
expiatory sufferings of Jesus Christ, who, as touching his 
manhood, was lineally descended from Isaac. 



28 FROM TT1E COSTFUSIOST OF LANGUAGES 

fully toward the young* heir, but who were still dear to 
the patriarch. At length, however, God having- con- 
firmed Saralvs proposal, and promised to provide for 
the welfare of Ishmael, the patriarch consented to send 
his bond woman and her sen away, that they might have 
no opportunity of disputing the inheritance with Isaac. 
Hagar having received a supply of bread and a bottle 
of water from her affectionate master, departed with her 
son, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beershe- 
ba, till the water being spent, and her own strength 
probably exhausted, she laid the object of her anxious 
solicitude under a shrub, or small tree, and sat down, 
at a considerable distance from him, expecting that he 
must soon die for want. While this supposition bedew- 
ed her cheek with tears, and she exclaimed in an ago- 
ny of grief, " Let me not see the death of my child £* 
an angel o£ God called to her out of heaven, assuring 
her of the divine protection on behalf of her son, and re- 
peating the former declaration that he should become 
the father of a great nation. He also directed her at* 
tention to a well of water, and thus obviated her cares 
and inquietudes. After this period Ishmael is said to 
have dwelt in the wilderness, and to have become an ex- 
pert archer as he advanced to years of maturity. The 
inspired historian has likewise informed us, that Hagar 
took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt ; and it 
appears from many concurring testimonies, that he 
eventually became the father of that warlike but extra- 
ordinary people, anciently known by the appellation of 
Ishmalites, but now called Bedouins, or Arabs of the 
Desert, who, notwithstanding the various re\olutions 
that have happened ia the world, still seem to retain the 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 29 

disposition and mode of life spoken of, by the angel of 
God, previously to the birth of their progenitor. 

Meanwhile Abimelech, who had long perceived that 
Abraham's affairs were attended with a peculiar bless- 
ing, proposed an oath to that patriarch, by which he 
should bind his posterity to live in amity with the royal 
family of Philistia, and to act with the same candor and 
fidelity toward them which he (Abimelech) had on all 
occasions shown to Abraham. The pious son of Terah 
readily acceded to this proposal ; but first desired that 
a dispute might be decided respecting a well which the 
Philistines had forcibly taken from him. Abimelech 
avowed his total ignorance of this outrage, and remind- 
ed the patriarch that no complaint had been preferred 
on the occasion till the present moment. Hereupon the 
dispute Mas amicably settled, and, a present of seven 
ewe lambs being accepted by the king as a testimony 
of Abraham's right and property, the well was called 
Beersheba, or " the well of the oath," because of the 
covenant to which they had there mutually sworn. The 
pleasantness of the country and the friendship of the 
prince induced Abraham to establish his residence 
among the Philistines. Here, also, he planted a stately 
grove, and erected an altar unto the Lord. 
B. C. On this spot, Abraham appears to have ex- 
1871. perienced the most lively pleasure, in contem- 
plating the goodness and celebrating the worship of that 
Adorable Being, who had brought him cut from Ur of 
the Chaldees, given him favor among the people with 
whom he now sojourned, augmented his wealth exceed- 
ingly, and rejoiced Lis aged heart with the birth of a son 
every way deserving of paternal affection. But his faith 
and obedience were now to be tried in the most severe 



3d FROM TBE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 



manner ; and that very son, who was the staff of his de 
dining' years, the promised head of a numerous race, 
and the fountain of many inestimable blessings, was com- 
manded to be led to a certain mountain, and there offer- 
ed up, as a burnt sacrifice, by the hand of his own father. 
" Take now thy son," said God, " thine only son, Isaac, 
whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah r 
and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the 
mountains which I will tell thee of." A command so 
strange in itself, so inconsistent with the mercy of a 
God, and apparently so inimical to the accomplishment 
of the Divine promises, might have been reasonably ex- 
pected to stagger the patriarch's faith, or at least to in- 
duce him to expostulate on the severity of the injunc- 
tion. Abraham, however, made no hesitation to obey ; 
but, leaving to God the completion of his own predic- 
tions, set out the very next morning, and on the third 
day came within view cf Mount Moriah, the place ap- 
pointed for the dreadful sacrifice. He now left his ser- 
vants at some distance, and calmly ascended the emi- 
nence, accompanied by his son, who was laden with 
wood and ether materials for a burnt offering, and who, 
perceiving nothing of a victim, could not forbear quest- 
ioning his father respecting it. kk My father," said the 
ingenuous youth, " behold the fire and the wood, but 
where is the lamb for a burnt offering V If Abraham's 
situation could possibly be rendered more acutely dis- 
tressing, it must certainly have been at this moment, 
when the child cf his fondest affections, and the sole com- 
fort of his agvd wife, presented to his cont. 
instruments of destruction, and pn pounded so . 
a question respecting the victim. But even this was un- 
able to shake the patriarch's feith or resolution, 
cordingly replied that God would provide for the occa- 



, 



TO THE BI11T1I OF MOSES. 3 I 

sion ; and, having erected the altar and laid the wood in 
order, bound his son, and stretched out his hand to fulfil 
the Divine injunction. At this awful crisis, however, 
the voice of God issued from the clouds, saying 
" Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any 
thing to him, for now T I know that thou fearest God, 
seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 
from me." Hereupon the joyful patriarch offered a ram, 
which was caught by its horns in a thicket, instead of 
his son, and called the scene of his trial Jehovah-jire, or 
ifc the Lord will provide," which we may safely consider, 
not only as an allusion to the answer he had given Isaac, 
but as a prediction of that great sacrifice which Jesus 
Christ, the Lamb of God, should offer, in his own per- 
son, for the redemption of mankind. " Abraham," says 
the adorable Saviour, u rejoiced to see my day, and he 
saw it and was glad."* 

B C, Abraham seems to have enjoyed the most 
1860. perfect happiness with his son and his beloved 
consort till his tranquillity was interrupted by the death 
of the latter, which happened, at the city of Hebron, in 
the hundred vm\ twenty seventh year of her age. The 
patriarch went thither to mourn for her, and to procure 
her an honourable sepulture; and, accordingly, requested 
the inhabitants to sell him a burying place. The citizens 
unanimously offered him the choice of the best sep- 
ulchre in their possession, and Ephron the Hittite 
made a voluntary offer of the cave of Machpelah which 
Abraham had expressed a wish for : but, the patriarch 
insisting on paying the full value for it, an agreement 

* Sec Gospel cf St. John, vifi. 56. 



32 FROM THE CONFUSION CF LANGUAGES 

was made for four hundred shekels* of silver, which 
were immediately paid down in full weight, and Abra- 
ham, being now the lawful owner of the cave, and field 
belonging to it, deposited in this place the remains of 
his aged wife. 

About three years after this transaction, the venerable 
patriarch, being extremely anxious to see Isaac happily 
married, called one of his most faithful servants, and, hav- 
ing made him solemnly swear to procure his son a wile 
out of his own kindred, gave him necessary instructions 
and authority to conclude the marriage. The servant 
accordingly departed, with ten camels laden with pres- 
ents, and proceeded with all possible speed to Haran in 
Mesopotamia, where Nahor, Abraham's brother, re- 
sided. 

On his arrival in the vicinage of Haran, he made his 
camels kneel clown by a well of water, and addressed 
himself in prayer to the Almighty, earnestly imploring 
that he would vouchsafe to bless his undertaking, and 
show, by a sign, who should become the wife of Isaac, 
" Behold," said he, " I stand by the well, and the 
daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water* 
Let it, therefore, come to pass, that the damsel to whom 
I shall say, let down thy pitcher I pray thee that I may 
drink, and she shall say, drink and I will give thy camels 
drink also : let the same be the person whom thou hast 
appointed for thy servant Isaac ; and thereby shall I 
know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master." 
To this humble request God vouchsafed an immediate 
and satisfactory answer ; for the servant had scarcely 

* As the Hebrew shekel, according to the best estimations, 
is equivalent to three of our shilling's, the price which Abra- 
ham paid for this burying place amounted to about sixty pounds 
sterling. 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. S3 

ended speaking, when Rebecca, the beautiful daughter 
of Bethuel approached, with a pitcher upon her shoul- 
der, and accomplished the token by cheerfully drawing 
water for the stranger and his camels. Hereupon 
Abraham's messenger presented her with an earring, 
and a pair of bracelets of pure gold ; and was, soon 
afler, invited into Bethuel's house, where, partly by his 
magnificent presents, and partly by his relation of God's 
gracious dealing with his master, he obtained the dam- 
sel for Isaac, and devoted the rest of the day to mirth 
and festivity. 

Next morning this faithful agent expressed a wish of 
returning to his master, and, with some difficulty, pre- 
vailed on the relatives of Rebecca to permit his depart- 
ure, after they had bestowed their warmest benedic- 
tions on the amiable object of their affection. On ap- 
proaching the habitation of Abraham, Rebecca perceiv- 
ed a man taking a solitary walk in the fields, and, on un- 
derstanding that it was Isaac, she alighted from her 
camel and covered herself with a veil, according to the 
custom of the country, in order to receive his first salu- 
tation. The servant then gave a faithful narration of 
his journey and success; and Isaac took the lovely stran- 
ger to his mother's tent, where she became his wife. 

Abraham may be reasonably supposed to have rejoic- 
ed in the felicity of his son upon this occasion ; but he 
deemed it advisable, though now in the hundred and 
forty first year of his age, to console himself for the loss 
of his beloved Sarah, by marrying Keturah,who bore him 
six sons, each of whom he portioned and sent into the 
east,* that they might not interfere with Isaac's inherit- 

* These sons of Abraham appear to have settled in Arabia 
Petrzea and Arabia Deserta, where some traces of their names 
may be still perceived, 



B4> FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

ance. Nothing further is recorded of this illustrious 
patriarch, who justly acquired the name of " father of 
the faithful," except that he lived to the venerable age 
of an hundred and seventy five years, and that he was 
buried, by Isaac and Ishmael, in the cave of Machpelah. 
B. c. Rebecca, after continuing barren for the 
1838. space of nineteen years (during which time her 
husband constantly prayed to God on her behalf,) be- 
came pregnant, and was delivered of two sons, whom 
she named Esau and Jacob. Esau became a famous 
huntsman, and consequently the darling of his father, 
who was extremely fond of venison ; but Jacob was the 
favourite of Rebecca, who knew that he should eventu- 
ally inherit the privileges of paternal blessing and pri- 
mogeniture, God having declared, before the birth of 
these twins, that the elder should serve the younger. 
When the two brothers were about twenty years old 
a circumstance occurred which it would be unpardona- 
ble to omit, and which seems to imply that Rebecca had 
entrusted her younger son with the secret of God's de- 
termination respecting his future fortune. Esau, having 
returned faint and weary from the toils of the chace, 
was particularly struck with the appearance of some 
red pottage which had been sodden by his brother, 
and earnestly requested that it might be given him. 
Hereupon Jacob proposed that his brother should swear 
away his birth right, and Esau, observing that the right 
of primogeniture was of little importance to a man at 
the point of death, rashly consented ; in consequence 
of which he was, afterward, called Edom. 
B. C, Some time after this transaction, Isasc was 
1805. compelled, by a grievous famine, to seek another 
habitation* and accordingly determined to go into Egypt y 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 55 

but God diverted him from that resolution, and com- 
manded him to repair to Gerar, where he should enjoy 
the peculiar protection of Heaven. The patriarch read- 
ily obeyed this injunction, and removed into the domin- 
ions of Abimelech, in which situation Rebecca passed 
for his sister, in order to shield him from any danger 
that might have resulted from her beauty. This arti- 
fice, however, appeared unnecessary, for, whether the 
Philistines recollected the judgment with which they 
had been formerly threatened on account of Sarah, or 
whether the morals of the people were at this time un- 
corrupted, it is certain that Rebecca was unmolested, 
and Isaac had no reason to complain on her account. 
It appears, however, that the king himself had a shrew 7 d 
suspicion they were man and wife ; for, looking, cue 
day, out of his window, he saw Isaac caressing Rebec- 
ca in such a manner, as convinced him that they were 
related by much closer ties than those of consanguinity. 
Hereupon he sent for the patriarch, and asked him how 
he could act with such dissimulation as to affirm that 
the woman who was really his wife was no other than 
his sister ? Isaac pleaded his father's excuse, K Lest I 
die for her ;"' but Abimelech replied, it was by no 
meanskindly done, for that some of his subjects might ig- 
norant] y have taken liberties with her, and by that means 
involved the whole nation in a dangerous sin. In order 
to prevent such a circumstance for the future, a royal 
proclamation was issued out whereby the Philistines 
were strictly forbidden to molest Rebecca or her hus- 
band, upon pain of death. 

Isaac appears to have lived peaceably in Gerar for 
some time after this occurrence ; but the rapid increase 
of his wealth gave such umbrage to the Philistine^ that 



36 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

they began to regard him with an eye of jealousy, ana 
gave him much disturbance by filling up the wells which 
his servants had dug, and by many other ill offices. 
These vexatious circumstances compelled him to re- 
move from place to place, till Abimelech, recollecting 
the covenant that had been solemnly ratified between 
his father and Abraham, and plainly perceiving that 
Isaac's concerns were under the immediate protection 
of God, deemed it adviseable to terminate all disputes 
by a new league, or by a revival of the old covenant of 
friendship. Accordingly the king, and Phicol the chief 
captain of his host, went to the habitation of the patri- 
arch, where they acknowledged that they saw the hand 
of Providence in his augmenting prosperity, and there- 
fore requested him to take an oath of friendship and al* 
liance to them, desiring no other terms, than that he 
and his descendants should refrain from molesting the 
Philistines, and act with the same kindness toward 
them, as both himself and his father had experienced. 
This proposal was readily accepted by the patriarch, 
who entertained his visitors with the utmost hospitality, 
and after a mutual ratification of the covenant, sent 
them away in peace. Immediately after their depar- 
ture, some of Isaac's servants brought him the pleasing 
intelligence that they had found water, upon which ac- 
count he called the place Beersheba. 

The tranquillity which resulted from thisnew alliance 
between Isaac and Abimelech, was soon disturbed by 
Esau's marrying two Hrttites, Judidth the daughter of 
Beeri. and BashemaLh, the daughter of Elon. The pa- 
triarch, however, still regarded his son with peculiar 
affection, and determined to make him the heir of all 
his substance. Accordingly, judging from the ad- 



TO THE BIRTH GF MOSES, %t 

vanced state of his age, the dimness of his sight, and 
Ottef circumstances, that his dissolution was approach- 
ing, he determined to bestow his benediction upon Esau 
before he died. With this intent he ordered him to 
go in quest of some venison, and to dress it to his pal- 
ate, intimat'ng that he designed to bless him on that day. 
" Make me savoury meat," said he, " such as I love, 
and bring it to me that I may eat, and that my soul 
may bless thee before I die." 

B. c. Esau readily obeyed his father's command ; 

1750. but whilst he was absent, Rebecca, who had 
overheard the whole conversation dressed her son Ja- 
cob in Esau's clothes ; put the skin of a kid about his 
hands and neck, the better to resemble her firstborn 
who was extremely hairy ; and preparing a dish of sa- 
voury meat, sent him into his father, notwithstanding 
his great reluctance, and his dread of incurring a curse 
rather than a blessing. Isaac appears to have been 
much surprised at the expedition with which his com- 
mands were obeyed, and certainly entertained some 
doubts respecting the identity of his son's person, 
for he desired him to come near that he might feel 
him, and earnestly demanded " Art thou my very son 
Esau ?" However he was at length satisfied, and pro- 
nounced the irrevocable blessing, saying, '<• The smell 
of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord 
hath blessed. Therefore God give thee of the dew of 
heaven, and the fatness of the earth, with \ knty of 
corn and wine. Let people serve thee, and nations 
bow down to thee ; be thou lord over 1 1 y brcthien, 
and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed 
be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that 
blesseth thee." 

E 



.,3jB FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

Whilst Rebecca and her son were congratulating 
themselves upon the success of their plan, Esau return- 
ed from the chace, and invited his father to eat of the 
venison which he had prepared. Isaac, in an agony of 
grief, exclaimed, that he had already eaten of such a 
repast, and bestowed his blessing upon Jacob, who had 
contrived to deceive him. Hereupon a mournful scene 
ensued between the venerable patriarch and his first- 
born, the former trembling exceedingly, and the other 
crying with a bitter cry, " Bless jne, even me also, O 
my father !" Isaac, however, strenuously insisted that 
h4s benediction should not be recalled. " I have bless- 
ed him," said he, " yea and be shall be blessed." But 
in order to assuage the immoderate grief of Esau, who 
upbraided his brother with thus deceitfully extorting 
first his birthright, and now his blessing from him, he 
blessed him also in these words. " Thy dwelling shall 
be the fatness of the earth, and ofthedewof heaven 
from above. By thy sword and thy bow shalt thou 
live, and shalt serve thy brother ; and it shall come to 
pass, that when thou shalt have the dominion, thou 
shalt break his yoke from off thy neck." These decla- 
rations were so far from satisfying Esau, that he deter- 
mined to revenge himself upon Jacob as soon as his 
father should die. However he gradually laid aside his 
anger, and finding that his parents had an insurmounta- 
ble aversion to the daughters of Canaan, he espoused 
ivlahalath the daughter of Ishmael, and removed with 
his family to Mount Seir. 

Meanwhile, Rebecca, dreading the accomplishment 
of Esau's threat, desired her youngest son to go to 
Padan Aram, in order to take a wife from the family of 
hei brother Laban .; Isaac also laid an injunction upon 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES;- 39 

..-■ 

him to the same effect, and gave him a fresh benedic> 
tion at his departure. 

Obedient to the command of his beloved parents, Jar 
cob quitted Beersheba, and proceeded on his journey 
till he came to the vicinage of Luz, where, being over? 
taken by the night, he took a stone for his pillow, and 
lay down to sleep. In this place he was indulged with 
a glorious vision, for whilst he slept; he dreamed that 
he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and, 
rendered peculiarly remarkable by a number of an- 
gels, who ascended and descended upon it, whilst the 
Deity, who stood above, vouchsafed to assure him, that 
his posterity should eventually inherit the circumja* 
cent country ; that his seed should be multiplied as 
the dust of the ground ; and that in him all the families 
of the earth should be blessed. Surprised at this solemn 
and important revelation, Jacob awaked from his sleep, 
and exclaimed with mingled awe and gratitude, " Sure- 
ly the Lord is in this place and I knew it not 1" Ear- 
ly the next morning he took the stone which had serv- 
ed him as a bolster, and set it up for a pillar of remem- 
brance : this pillar he solemnly anointed with oil, ac- 
cording to the custom of the country, and called the 
place Bethel, or the house of God. He also made a 
solemn vow, that if God would grant him his protec- 
tion, feed, clothe, and bring him safely back to Ins fa- 
ther's house, the Lord should be the enly object of his 
worship ; that he would cheerfully offer the tenth part 
of his substance to him ; and that the monument 
which he had now /erected should indeed be honoured 
as God's house. 

Having finished his pious address to the God of his 
fathers, Jacob proceeded peaceably to the house of his 



40 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

uncle Laban, where he was received with the most un* 
equivocal marks of affection, and where he became so 
deeply enamoured of Rachel, Laban's youngest daugh- 
ter, that he gladly consented to serve his kinsman sev- 
en years, on condition of receiving her hand in mar- 
riage. Laban readily acquiesced in this proposal, and 
the son of Isaac served with such alacrity and cheerful- 
ness, that the seven years appeared to him as no more 
than a few days : but when the stipulated service was 
accomplished, and Jacob demanded the dear remuner- 
ation of all his toils, Laban shamefully violated his own 
promise, and injured his nephew in the most cruel 
manner, by introducing him to the apartment of Leah, 
who seems to have been as homely as her sister was 
beautiful. Next morning Jacob remonstrated on the 
impropriety of this conduct, and expressed his resent- 
ment in such terms, as induced the aggressor to apolo- 
gise, and to offer Rachel also, at the expiration of Leah's 
nuptial week, for seven other years of faithful service. 

Jacob, having acceded to this proposal, was, at length, 
rewarded for his former cares and toils ; and Rachel 
became, if possible, more dear than ever, whilst Leah 
was obliged to content herself with a formal and con- 
strained civility. This great partiality, however, seems 
to have been displeasing to the Almighty ; for Rachel 
was, for a considerable length of time, deemed barren, 
while her neglected sister became the happy mother of 
many children. Her firstborn she called Reuben, inti- 
mating that God had taken cognizance of her affliction 
and given her a son, who might, probably, engage her 
husband's affection ; her second she named Simeon, 
because she said the Lord had heard her complaint ; 
her third she called Levi, in the fond hope that her con* 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 4! 

sort would be now cordially joined to her ; and the fourth 
she distinguished by the name of Judah, thinking her- 
self bound to praise God on account of her fruitfulness. 
B c Rachel, by this time, was so extremely mor- 
1/49. tified at her sister's felicity, that she began to 
utter many complaints against Providence, and peevish- 
ly told Jacob, that unless he gave her children also, she 
should assuredly fall a victim to unconquerable grief. 
This observation kindled the anger of her husband, who 
justly observed, that he was not possessed of the power 
of working miracles, and reminded her that God alone 
had withheld from her those blessings which had fallen 
to the lot of Leah. Silenced by this remark, she be- 
thought herself of giving her handmaid to Jacob, ac- 
cording to the custom of the country, and accordingly 
desired him to take Biihah, by whom he had two sons, 
the first of whom Rachel named Dan, meaning that 
God had judged in her favour, and the other she called 
Napthali, to express the violent struggle she had with 
her sister. " With great wrestlings," said she, " have 
I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed." 

Leah, supposing that she had entirely left off bearing, 
gave her maid Zilpah to Jacob, whose first child she 
called Gad, or a troop, expecting many more to follow, 
and the next she named Asher, to express her own hap- 
piness at such an increase. She was also blest with 
two more sons, whom she called Issachar and Zebulun, 
and with a daughter, whom she named Dinah. Ra- 
chel's earnest prayers were likewise heard, and she was 
happily delivered of a son, whom she called Joseph, in 
hopes that God would vouchsafe to grant her another. 
By this time Jacob having completed his fourteen 

years of servitude, requested his uncle's* permission to 
e 2 



42 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

retire with his family and the fruit of his labours to the 
habitation of his aged parents : but Laban earnestly re- 
quested him to stay a little longer, and promised to re* 
ward him with all the speckled, spotted, and brown cat- 
tle among the sheep, and with all the spotted and speck- 
led among the goats. Laban's avarice, however, in- 
vented so many stratagems to defraud his nephew, that 
the tatter was compelled to use others in his own de- 
fence, by which means, notwithstanding several arbitra- 
ry changes of the first, agreement, he became exceed- 
ing rich and was enabled to purchase male and female 
servants, camels, qxrei), <kc. which excited such jealousy 
in Laban and his sons against him, that they began to 
look upon him with an evil eye, and to accuse him of 
having greatly diminished their substance. 
B. C. Jacob, having perceived this sensible change 
1739. i n t j ie manners of his relations, and being like- 
wise encouraged by the Lord to return unto the land 
of his fathers, sent for his wives, Rachel and Leah, into 
the field, and, after recapitulating the harsh treatment 
which he had received from their father, and the nu- 
merous mercies of God toward him, made them ac- 
quainted with his design of quitting Pudatl Aram with- 
out the permission of Laban, and of paying a visit to 
his renerttble parents. His wives approving this pro- 
ject, he immediately collected all his servants and ef- 
fects, and began his journey toward Canaan, whilst his 
father in law was fully occupied, at a considerable dis- 
tance, in shearing his sheep. 

On the third day, Laban hearing of his children's 

precipitate departure, set out in pursuit ; but seven 

'clays elapsed before he cane up with them, by which 

ti;ne they had passed the river Euphrates and pitched 

■ "j iC s on -he 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 4© 

It is highly probable that Laban had resolved to take 
some signal vengeance upon Jacob ; but, God having 
appeared to him ill a dream, and threatened him with a 
dreadful punishment in case of his attempting any thing 
against his pious relative, he only upbraided him with 
the strange and precipitate mode of his departure which 
had occasioned him much vexation and deprived him of 
the satisfaction either of caressing his children, or of 
sending them away with the customary marks of affec- 
tion and respect. He also complained bitterly of the loss 
of his gods, which Rachel, without the knowledge or 
consent of her husband, had taken, and carefully con- 
cealed among the camel's furniture. 

To the first part of this complaint, Jacob boldly replied 
by reminding his father in law that he had been grossly 
deceived in the article of marriage, repeatedly wronged 
in the payment of his wages, and frequently treated in 
the most unkind and arbitrary manner, notwithstanding 
his known fidelity, and the readiness with which he had 
endured the united inconveniences of toilsome watch- 
ings and inclement seasons : but, with respect to the 
idols he professed himself ignorant of the whole transac- 
tion, and voluntarily offered that the most diligent search 
sliould be made among his people, and that the thief, if 
discovered, should expiate his crime by death. Laban 
gladly availed himself of this proposal, and searched 
every tent with the utmost care and circumspection. 
Rachel's presence of mind, however, rendered his labour 
fruitless, and he was consequently obliged to submit in 
silence to his loss. Some fresh expostulations now took 
place between Jacob and the Syrian, who. after some 
time, agreed to make an amicable alliance, and to rear a 
pile of stones, on the spot, as a monument of their per- 



44 FROM THE CONTUSION OF LANGUAGES 

petual friendship. This plan was immediately reduced 
to execution ; a mutual oath was taken that neither par- 
ty should pass beyond that pillar (called Gilead, or the 
heap of witness) to molest the other ; a solemn sacrifice 
was offered upon the occasion ; and, next morning, 
Laban bestowed his blessing on the whole family, and 
returned to the land of his ancestors. 

Jacob was, in all probability, highly satisfied by the 
happy termination of this affair ; but one fear succeeded 
another, and the dread of Esau's resentment gave him 
fresh occasion of inquietude. A vision of angels, how- 
ever, who met him on the road, allayed his anxiety for 
awhile, and emboldened him to send a deputation of his 
servants to his elder brother, in order to acquaint him 
with the prosperous state of his affairs, and to announce 
his return from Padan Aram. The messengers return- 
ing with intelligence that Esau was advancing to meet 
him with foor hundred followers, Jacob concluded that 
he certainly designed to cut him off. However, on cool 
reflection, he deemed it expedient to provide for his own 
defence ; and accordingly divided his family into two 
bands, under the idea that if one perished the other 
might possibly escape. He then addressed himself to 
God in prayer, acknowledging his signal mercies and 
his own un worthiness, and earnestly requesting protec- 
tion against his brother. The idea of appeasing Esau by 
presents next suggested itself to his mind ; and he ac- 
cordingly sent two hundred and twenty goats, two hun- 
dred ewes, twenty rams, thirty she camels with their 
colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten 
colts, in separate droves ; and commanded their drivers 
to tell his brother, when they met him, that they wera 
presents sent by Jacob unto his lord Esau. 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 45 

Next morning he caused his family and flocks to 
cross the brook Jabbok, whilst he himself tarried at 
Mahanaim and was favoured with another vision of the 
same Divine Person whom he had seen before at Beth* 
el, and who is said, on this occasion, to have wrestled 
with him till the break of day, when he touched the hol- 
low of Jacob's thigh, which was immediately dislocated ; 
but, as the patriarch still refused to let him go unless he 
blessed him, he gave him a solemn benediction, and 
changed his name from Jacob to Israel, which signifies 
" a man that has prevailed with God." 

Grateful for this fresh demonstration of his Creator's 
affection, Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, or 
" the face of God," and proceeded cheerfully, notwith- 
standing his lameness, till he had overtaken his family. 
His interview with his brother was equally pleasant and 
affecting ; and he proceeded without molestation to 
Succoth, where he erected a temporary residence for 
himself, and booths for his cattle. From this place he 
removed to Shalem, a city of the Shechemites, and 
pitched his tents in a field which he purchased of the 
king for a hundred pieces of money : he also raised an 
altar to u the mighty God of Israel," and seems to have 
lived in perfect harmony with the inhabitants of the 
country till a circumstance occuned which compelled 
him to remove to Bethel. 

Shechem, son of Hamor, prince of the country, hap- 
pening to meet with Dinah, the daughter of Leah, be- 
came enamoured of her beauty, and took some unwar- 
rantable liberties with her ; but immediately offered to 
atone for his indiscretion, by making her his wife, and 
earnestly besought his father to procure an alliance be- 
tween his own family and that of Jacob. Hereupon 



46 fro** th£ confusion of languages 

ITamor held a conference with the sons of the patriarch, 
urging the violence of Shechem's passion, and offering 
to give the most splendid dowry that could be demanded 
for the gratification of his desires. Jacob's sons, though 
burning with rage at the insult that had been offered to 
their family, affected to listen with complacency to these 
proposals, and, after some consideration, agreed to give 
their sister to Shechem, and also to intermarry with 
the natives of the place, on condition that all the male 
citizens consented to receive the religious rites by which 
God had distinguished his people from all other nations. 
This offer was accepted, and the ShechemiteS were pre- 
vailed on, by their beloved prince, to become as the 
family of their new neighbour. But they had no soon- 
er performed their part of the treaty, than Simeon and 
Levi, two of Jacob's sons, rushed suddenly into the city, 
massacred all the male inhabitants, took all the women 
and children captive, and drove off all the cattle in tri- 
umph. An act of baseness, for which Jacob rebuked 
them in the severest terms, and which would certainly 
have subjected them to the vengeance of the adjacent 
nations, had not God interposed on behalf of their 
father, and commanded him to retire immediately to 
Bethel, where he had formerly appeared to him when 
he fled from his brother Esau. 
B C. Pursuant to his Maker's injunction, Jacob de- 
1732. p ar ted from Shalem, and, having caused all the 
idols which his family had taken from the Sheer. emites, 
or brought from Padan Aram, to be hidden at the foot of 
a tree proceeded to Luz, afterward called Bethel, with- 
out molestation. Here he erected a new altar which 
he inscribed to the God of Bethel ; and here Deborah, 
Jys mother's nurse, wi-.s buried .near an oak, which was 



{TO THE BIRTH OF HOSES. 47 

called Allon bachuth, or " the oak of mourning." 
However, he made but a short stay at this place, being 
anxious to visit his aged father, whom he had not^een 
since his journey to Mesopotamia. As he was travelling 
toward Ephrath, his beloved Rachel fell in labour, and, 
perceiving that her dissolution was approaching, called 
the child Benoni, or " the son of my affliction ;" but, 
after her decease, Jacob changed this name into Benja- 
min, or w< the son of my right hand." The remains of 
this amiable woman were interred in the road to Ephrath, 
and a stone monument was erected to her memory, 
which, even in Moses's time, was known as " the pillar 
of Rachel's grave." Abcut this time, also, Reuben, 
having become enamoured of Bilhah, his father's con- 
cubine, committed an outrage, which afflicted the patri- 
arch so deeply that he reflected on it with sorrow to the 
time of bis death. 

Jacob now hastened to quit a place which had proved 
so unfortunate ; and came at length to Mamre, the hab- 
itation of his venerable father, where he resided till that 
patriarch breathed out his pious soul into the hands of 
his Creator, after a well spent life of a hundred and 
eighty years. His body was carried to the cave of Mac- 
pelah, and his obsequies were performed by his two 
sons Jacob and Esau. 

The happiness which Jacob had enjoyed during his 
last residence with Isaac, had been greatly diminished 
by the cruel and illiberal conduct of some part of his own 
family, Joseph, who was then in the seventeenth year of 
his age, and peculiarly dear to his father, on account of 
his superior -wisdom and virtue, became an object of 
jealousy to his brethren ; and on his telling them some 
remarkable dreams, which clearly prefigured his future 



4S 



FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 



success, and their humiliation, their envy was converted 
into the most irreconcileable hatred, and they actually 
resolved to take him oft" by assassination. 

An opportunity soon offered for the gratification of 
their revenge ; for Jacob, being uneasy that he had not 
heard from his sons since they had removed, with their 
flocks, to Shechem, sent Joseph to inquire concerning 
their welfare ; and the defenceless youth was immedi- 
ately adjudged to death by his unnatural relatives, who 
agreed to kill him, and to clip his coat in biood, in order 
to persuade his father that he had been devoured by wild 
beasts. Reuben, however, dissuaded them from im- 
bruing their hands in his blood, and advised them to let 
him down into u pit, where he might perish with hun- 
ger. This proposal was immediately carried into exe- 
cution ; but a troop of Ishmaelites happening to pass, 
with spices, balm, and other merchandize, on their way 
to Egypt, Judah started the idea of selling him for a 
slave, and observed that his being carried away would 
answer their purpose as well as his death. Hereupon 
Joseph was drawn up from the pit, and delivered, 
for a certain sum, to the merchants, who immediately 
carried him off. Reuben, who had been absent during 
this transaction, was so violently affected by the loss of 
his brother, whom he had designed to rescue, and uttered 
such pitiable lamentations, that they were more solicit- 
ous than ever to conceal their nefarious conduct ; and 
at length agreed to dip his party coloured coat in the 
blood of a kid, in order to deceive their father. This 
project was instantly executed, and the ensanguined 
garment carried to the patriarch, who exclaimed, in all 
the agony of paternal woe, " Joseph is, without doubt, 
rent in pieces I" and positively refused to listen to the 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 49 

voice of consolation, saying, " I wit! go down into the 
grave, unto my son, mourning." 

On the arrival of the Ishmaelites in Egypt, Joseph was 
sold to an officer of the king's guard, named Potiphar, 
in whose service he conducted himself with such deco- 
rum and integrity, that the whole affairs of the house 
were soon entrusted to his management. He had passed 
some years in this situation, when Potiphar's wife, cap- 
tivated by his comeliness and accomplishments, endeav- 
oured to seduce him into the crime of adultery, and, 
after several fruitless attempts, accosted him in so pas- 
sionate and immodest a manner, that Joseph fled ab- 
ruptly from her presence, leaving his upper garment, by 
which she strove to detain him, in her hands. Fired 
with indignation at this repulse, she immediately re- 
solved to ruin the virtuous youth ; and accordingly, hav- 
ing assembled all her domestics, impudently charged 
him with having insulted her in an unpardonable man- 
ner, and produced the garment as a confirmation of her 
malicious assertions, Potiphar, coining home soon after- 
ward, was easily persuaded to revenge the supposed out- 
rage, and caused the innocent Hebrew to be immediate- 

y confined in the king's prison. 

B. C. Notwithstanding this ill requital of his extraor- 

1716. dinary fidelity, Joseph still adhered strictly to 
the worship of his Creator, and the regular practice of 
those virtues which had rendered him odious to his nar- 
row minded brethren. This exemplary conduct, togeth- 
er with the uncommon prudence that he manifested, 
on all occasions, soon gained the esteem of the Egyptian 
gaoler, who treated him with all the kindness that his 
situation would permit, and even entrusted him with 
the care of his fellow prisoners. Two of these men,- 

F 



.50 FROM T*IE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

the king's chief butler and baker, told Joseph some 
remarkable dreams, which he readily interpreted, and 
even predicted the exact time when they should be ful- 
filled ; observing that the butler should, within three 
days, be restored to his former employment, but that the 
baker should, at the same time, be condemned to death. 
He then requested the former to use his interest at 
court for his liberation ; relating the mournful story of 
his early captivity, the infamous behaviour of his late 
mistress, and what else appeared most likely to interest 
the compassion of his auditor. 

At the predicted time Pharaoh's servants were called 
from the prison, when the baker, according to Joseph's 
assertion, was sentenced to be hanged, and the butler 
was graciously pardoned, and reinstated in his honour- 
ary employment. The promise, however, which he 
had given to Joseph, was totally forgotten, and two 
years elapsed before the unfortunate Hebrew was taken 
from his melancholy confinement;. 
B. C. About this time Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was 
1714. muc h alarmed by two remarkable dreams; in one 
of which he beheld seven fat cows grazing on the banks 
of the Nile,but these were soon attacked and devoured 
by seven others, lean and ill favoured, which seemed to 
be neither larger nor fatter in consequence of their re- 
past ; and in the other he saw seven full ears of corn 
devoured by seven that were thin, and blasted with 
the east wind. These dreams being considered as 
portentions of some eventful occurrence, immediate re- 
course was had to the Egyptian soothsayers and ma- 
gichns, but none of them could return a satisfactory an- 
swer ; till Joseph, being suddenly recollected by the 
,butJer, and sent for by Pharaoh, explained them to this 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 5 I 

effect. " The seven good kine are seven years ; and 
the seven good ears are seven years : the dream is one. 
And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up 
after them are seven years ; and the seven empty ears 
blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of fam^ 
ine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pha- 
raoh. What God is about to do he showeth unto the 
king. Behold there come seven years of great plenty 
throughout all the land of Egypt : and there shall arise 
after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty 1 
shall be forgotten, and the famine shall consume the 
land. And for that the dream was repeated to Pha- 
raoh, it is because the thing is established by God, and 
God will shortly bring it to pass." 

Joseph, having thus clearly interpreted these singular 
dreams, advised the king to appoint a discreet minister 
over his whole dominions, who might erect granaries 
and send officers into every province to lay up anfih 
part of all the produce of the seven plentiful years, as a 
resource against the time of famine. This proposal was 
highly applauded both by Pharaoh and his counsellors, 
and, after some consultation, it was agreed that Joseph 
himself should be empowered to carry it into execution. 
He was, accordingly, appointed overseer of Pharaoh's 
house ; the king gave him his own signet off his finger; 
vestures of line linen and golden ornaments were in- 
stantly brought to adorn his person ; the name of Zaph- 
nathpaaneah, or " a revealer of secrets," was bestowed 
upon him in consideration of his uncommon wisdom ; 
and he was allowed to ride in the second chariot of state, 
while the attendants who ran before it cried u Bow the 
knee." The daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, was 
also bestowed upon him in marriage, that a splendid al- 



51 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

liance, together with the royal favour, might ensure the 
esteem, and prompt obedience, of all ranks of the 
Egyptians. 

The pious son of Jacob, being thus suddenly deliver- 
ed from his afflictions, and raised to such an enviable 
height of power, applied himself sedulously to his new 
employment ; and, having made a progress through 
the whole kingdom, arranged all things with such ex- 
quisite judgment and coherence, that before the expira- 
tion of the plentiful years, his granaries were filled 
above numbering. During this time his domestic fe- 
licity was greatly increased by the birth of two sons, the 
first of whom he named Manasseh, intimating, that God 
had made him forget all his toil ; and the other he called 
Ephraim, " because/' said he, " God hath rendered me 
fruitful in the land of my affliction.* The seven plen- 
tiful years were no sooner expired than the predicted 
famine began to appear, not only in Egypt, but also in 
Canaan and the adjacent nations. As soon therefore 
as its effects began to be felt, Joseph opened his stores, 
and commanded that corn should be sold, both to the 
Egyptians and to foreigners, who flocked to him from 
all the neighbouring countries. 

In this posture of affairs, the family of Jacob seems to 
have suffered much inconvenience, till the patriarch, 
hearing of the admirable precaution which had been 
taken in Egypt, dispatched ten of his sons thither, to 
purchase corn, keeping only Benjamin, his youngest fa- 
vourite, at home. Upon their arrival they were directed 
to the governor for an order, and, prostrating themselves 
before him, earnestly petitioned that he would permit 
them to purchase grain for their subsistence. Joseph, 
recognizing the features of his brethren, and beholding 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 53 

the accomplishment of one of bis dreams* in their pres- 
ent behaviour, assumed a severe look, and demanded, 
in an angry tone, whence they came ; intimating a 
shrewd suspicion that they were spies, who came to dis- 
cover the weakness of the land. Terrified at this ac- 
cusation, they submissively assured him, that they 
were all one man's sons ; that they resided in the land 
of Canaan ; and that they had left a younger brother 
with their aged parent, who had been blessed with 
another besides, but he was now no more. Upon this 
declaration, Joseph observed that they had now an op- 
portunity of proving their integrity, by fttching their 
youngest brother ; and that, unless one of them were 
deputed for this purpose, while the rest remained in 
custody, he should be convinced of their treasonable 
designs, and should punish them accordingly. 

With this threat the sons of Israel were sent to prison, 
and kept in a dreadful state of anxiety for three days ; 
but at the expiration of that time, Joseph sent for 
them, and proposed that one only should remain a pris- 
oner with him, whilst the rest returned with provision 
to their family, and, at the same time, promised that, on 
the appearance of their youngest brother, he should be 
delivered up safe, and they should have free permission 
to traffic in the land. He then caused Simeon, who had 
probably been one of his most implacable enemies, to be 
bound before their eyes, and sent back to prison, whilst 
they, supposing the governor to be ignorant of their 

* He dreamed that lie and his brethren were employed in 
binding sheaves in a field of wheat, when his sheaf arose and 
stood upright, and those of his brethren prostrated themselves 
before it. At another time, he ■ dreamed that the sun, moon 3 
and eleven stars, made obeisance to him in a similar manner. 



54 FROM THK CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

language, acknowledged that this distress was a just re- 
ward for their inhumanity toward their brother Joseph, 
whose cries and entreaties had not been able to prevent 
his misfortune, or to soften their obdurate hearts. 

Finding it impossible to obtain any better terms from 
the ruler of Egypt, they, at length, set out on their 
journey ; but Joseph had contrived another cause of sur- 
prise for them ; for on their halting, to give some prov- 
ender to their beasts, they found all their money tied 
up in their sacks, and immediately concluded that the 
imperious Egyptian had practised this expedient in 
order to enslave them at their next visit. On their 
arrival at the land of Canaan, they related all their mel- 
ancholy adventures to the patriarch, who was much 
grieved at the detention of Simeon, but infinitely more 
so when he heard that Benjamin alone could redeem 
him. The contemplation of this sad necessity over- 
powered him with indescribable anguish ; the recollec- 
tion of his beloved Rachel hashed upon his mind ; and 
he exclaimed in the bitterness of his soul, " Me have 
ye bereaved of my children ; Joseph is not, and Simeon 
is not ; and ye will take Benjamin away : all these 
things are against me !" 

Jacob appears to have withstood the solicitations of 
his sons for a considerable time ; but at length the 
dreadful effects of famine, and the persuasions of Ju- 
dah, who promised to answer for Benjamin*s safety at 
the hazard of his own life, induced him to part with his 
favourite for a time, having first given his sons the 
strictest charge concerning him, and desired them to 
carry double money, and some presents with them, in 
order to deprecate the anger of the Egyptian lord, whom 
they had painted in such unamiable colours/ 



TO THE BIRTH OF MGSES. 55 

When the travellers had accomplished their journey, 
and presented themselves before Joseph, he caused his 
steward to conduct them to his house, where he design- 
ed to entertain them with a dinner ; but they were so 
effectually alarmed by the circumstances of their former 
visit, that they suspected some design was forming 
against their liberty, and therefore seized the earliest 
opportunity of adverting to the singular occurrence of 
finding their money in their sacks, and of testifying 
their innocence by tendering the same sum again, with 
afresh supply for other provisions. The steward, how- 
ever, satisfied them on this head, and introduced them 
to their brother Simeon, informing them, at the same 
time, that they were to dine with the governor at noon. 
As soon as Joseph came home, he inquired after their 
health, and that of Jacob, and demanded whether that 
was their youngest brother who stood before him. Ben- 
jamin answered this question by a respectful inclination 
of his head ; and Joseph, having given him his bless- 
ing, ordered the dinner to be served. The brethren 
were placed according to their seniority, whilst he sat* 
at one table by himself, and his Egyptian guests at 
another ; for the Egyptians would have considered it* 
an abomination to eat with an Hebrew. Joseph, there- 
fore, according to the custom of the country, sent dishes 
from his own table to all his brethren ; and they were 
greatly surprised at the exactness with which he serv- 
ed them according to their respective ages ; but much 
more so when Benjamin received a portion five times 
larger than any of the rest. 

After they had concluded their repast, the sons of Is- 
rael began to think of taking leave, and, next morn- 
ing) set out on their return j but they had not proceeded 



56 



FROM TKP; CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 



far before they were pursued and overtaken by Joseph's 
steward, who accused them of carrying off his lord's 
drinking cup. Astonished at this extraordinary charge, 
and conscious of their own innocence, they immediately 
proposed that the thief, if detected, should suffer death, 
and that all the others should become slaves ; but 
when the steward, after a strict search, drew out the 
cup from Benjamin's sack, they rent their clothes in 
despair, and returned mournfully to the city. Joseph 
reprimanded them severely for their ungenerous re- 
quital of his civilities ; but observed that, as he was un- 
willing to punish the innocent with the guilty, he should 
only detain the youth with whom the cup was found, 
and that his brethren were at liberty to depart without 
molestation. 

Judah, who had so earnestly persuaded his fatffer to 
send Benjamin into Egypt, and who had voluntarily 
become a surety for his safety, was cut to the heart 
by this unexpected sentence ; and, emboldened by 
despair, he stepped forward to plead on the imaginary 
culprit's behalf. He addressed himself in the most 
pathetic language to Joseph, expatiated on Jacob's ex- 
treme fondness, eagerly offered to endure the proposed 
punishment in his own person, and drew so lively a pic- 
ture of the agonies which would assuredly rend his 
aged parent's bosom, if his present entreaties were dis- 
regarded, that Joseph was at length overcome with the 
violence of his own feelings, and, having dismissed all 
the Egyptian attendants, made himself known to his 
brethren, while a shower of tears relieved his oppressed 
heart, and the warmth of his embraces convinced them 
of his forgiveness and unabated affection. " Be not 
jf ieved," said the generous* Hebrew, " nor angry with 



n 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 37 

yourselves that ye sold me hither ; for God did send me 
before you to preserve life : for these two years hath a 
famine been in the land ; and yet there are five years in 
which there shall neither be earning nor harvest. And 
God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in 
the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance ; 
so, it was not you that sent me hither, but God ; and he 
hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his 
house, and a ruler throughout ail the land of Egypt." 

During this affecting scene, some of the Egyptians ran 
to inform their sovereign that the governor's brethren 
were come to buy corn ; in consequence of which,- 
Pharaoh was pleased to issue out an order for the re- 
moval of JacoVs family into his dominions, promising 
them his protection, and assuring Joseph thatthey should 
not want provisions or any other favour that he could 
bestow. Joseph gratefully accepted the offers of his 
royal patron, and sent waggons for the conveyance of 
his family, together with ten asses laden with the 
choicest commodities of Egypt, and an abundance of 
provision. He also presented his astonished brethren 
with changes of raiment ; and, having distinguished his 
favourite by the addition of three hundred pieces of sil- 
ver, dismissed them, w T ith a strict charge that they 
should not fall out by the way. 

On their arrival at their father's abode, Jacob ea- 
gerly inquired after his darling Benjamin, and deemed 
himself completely happy in folding that object of 
affection once more to his aged bosom ; but when he 
heard the unexpected news of Joseph's safety and 
splended condition, the pious son of Isaac fainted be- 
neath the oppression of his contending emotions, and on 
recovering his senses, he seemed to consider the whole 



58 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

as a mere delusion : the sight, however, of the Egyp- 
tian carriages and presents effectually dispersed his 
doubts, and he exclaimed in a transport of joy, " It is 
enough ; Joseph my son is yet alive ; I will go and see 
him before I die !" 

The eager desire of seeing a son whom he had so <•' 
long considered as dead, may be naturally supposed to 
have hastened the patriarch's departure, and to have 
enabled him cheerfully to overcome all the obstacles 
which the number of his descendants, flocks, Sec. laid 
in his way. But as he deemed it incumbent upon him 
to express his gratitude to God, and to implore the 
Divine blessing before he entered Egypt, he went first 
to Beersheba, to offer a sacrifice? both because it was 
the place where his progenitors, Abraham and Isaac, 
had lived so long and tranquilly, and because it was in 
his road to Egypt, being the utmost boundary of Canaan,' 
toward the south. . At this place he was honoured with 
a fresh vision of the Deity, who encouraged him to 
proceed on his journey, promising that Joseph should 
close his eyes with filial affection, and that his posterity 
should, in due time, be brought out of Egypt, and plant- 
ed in the Land of Promise. 
B. C. Thus encouraged by the voice of his Maker, 
1706. Jacob hastened toward the metropolis of Egypt, 
and sent one of his sons forward to apprise Joseph 
of his arrival. Hereupon the minister of Pharaoh has- 
tened to meet his beloved father ; and their mutual sen- 
sations were such as exceed the powers of description. 
After this interview, Joseph presented five of his breth- 
ren to the king, who condescended to question them 
respecting their occupation, and gave them free per- 
mission to settle in the land of Goshen. Jacob was 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. S£ 

also introduced to the Egyptian monarch, on whom he 
bestowed a solemn benediction; and the strangers were, 
soon afterward, established in their new settlement, 
where they received a regular supply of corn from 
the granaries during the famine, and were entrusted 
with the care of Pharaoh's cattle. 

Whilst the family of Israel were happily maintained in 
Goshen, by the care and attention of Joseph, the Egyp- 
tians were reduced to great extremities by the famine, 
which rendered corn so extremely dear, that they were 
not only drained of all their money, but even compelled 
to sell their cattle, houses, lands, and eventually their own 
persons, for subsistence ; so that they all became slaves 
to the crown, except the priests, who, receiving a supply 
of provision out of the royal stores, were exempt from 
this public calamity. At this period we are told, that 
many of the people were transplanted from one end 
of the kingdom to the other, and that the unhappy mul- 
titude went some one way, and some another, patiently 
submiting to every species of misery, in order to obtain 
a scanty supply for their craving appetites. At length, 
however, Joseph revived their hearts by asserting that 
a favourable crop might be expected the next season, 
when the earth should be fertilized by the overflowing 
of the Nile, and when a fresh distribution of cattle, corn, 
and lands should be made, that they might return to their 
former avocations, with a reservation of one fifth part 
of all the produce of the country, which should be set 
apart for the king. The poor people were too grateful 
for the seed which Joseph delivered to them, and too 
much elated by the idea of a new harvest, to cavil at 
this restriction. They, therefore, cheerfully applied 
themselves to the cultivation of their respective lands ; 



60 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

and from this period, the fifth part of all Egyptian pro- 
ducts, except those belonging to the priests, were con- 
sidered as the legal property of the crown. 

Meanwhile the family of Israel augmented rapidly, 
both in wealth and numbers, under the immediate bless- 
ing of God, who had in so wonderful a manner brought 
good out of evil, and even made the malice of Joseph's 
brethren subservient to the accomplishment of his own 
pleasure concerning the preservation of a stock, from 
which should spring an illustrious and peculiar nation, 
and from which, according to the fiesh, should descend 
the promised Messiah. At length, Jacob, perceiving 
by the decay of his natural strength, that his death was 
approaching, sent for his son Joseph, and addressed him 
to this effect. " If you still retain that affection for me 
which has hitherto marked your character, and if I have 
indeed found grace in your sight, I request that you 
will take an oath to carry my remains, after my death, 
out of this land, and deposit them in the burying place 
of my progenitors." Joseph readily acceded to this pro- 
posal ; and the venerable patriarch bowed himself upon 
the bed's head, in token of grateful adoration to his 
Creator. 
B. C Soon after this transaction, Joseph, hearing 
1689. that his father was at the point of death, took 
his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see him, and 
to implore his benediction before lie died. At the 
sight of his beloved grand children, Jacob raised himself 
up in his bed, and spoke with extraordinary cheerful- 
ness ; recapitulating the gracious promises which he 
had received, at different times, from the Almighty ; 
and observing that, on account of his beloved Rachel, 
Joseph's sons should become the heads of two tribes. 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 61 

and receive a double portion in the division of the Land 
of Promise. He thtn desired his grandsons to ap- 
proach the bedside ; and Joseph placed them in such 
a manner that Jacob might lay his right hand upon 
the head of Manasseh, and his left upon that of 
Kphraim : but ttie patriarch, crossing his arms, laid his 
right upon the younger, and his left upon the elder. 
Joseph, supposing this position to result from a mistake, 
attempted to rectify it ; but his father told him, he 
acted by divine direction ; and, in bestowing his bene- 
diction, he both preferred Ephraim to Manasseh, and 
gave him the nobler blessing. " Manasseh," said the 
dying patriarch, " shall become a people, and he also 
shall be great : but truly his younger brother shall be 
greater than he. and his seed shall become a multitude 
of nations." 

Jacob, finding himself much enfeebled, and his death 
rapidly approaching, caused all his other sons to be 
assembled, and addressed them in the following* pro- 
phetic language : 

" Reuben, thou art my firstborn, the beginning of my 
strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency 
of power ; but, because thou hast had so little regard to 
thy father's honor as to defile his bed, all the blessings 
to which thou wast entitled by the right of primogen- 
iture shall pass away like the unstable waters, and thou 
shalt not excel among thy brethren. 

" Simeon and Levi are indeed brethren, not only by 
the ties of consanguinity, but in disposition ; for they 
have mutually rendered themselves instruments of 

* It is necessary to remark, that these predictions of Jacob 
are not given exactly in the language Oi iiiQ Old Testament ; but 
the meaning is strictly preserved. 
G 



62 FROM TffE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

cruelty. May my soul be ever preserved from such 
bloody counsels, and my honor unpolluted by their 
guilt ; for their anger hurried them on to commit mur- 
der, and their self will caused them to break through 
every obstacle. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce ; 
and their wrath, for it was cruel ! 

" Judah, thy name signifies praise, and thou shalt 
receive the praises of thy brethren ; for they shall bow 
down before thee as their lawful sovereign,* and thy 
enemies shall be compelled to submit their necks tc thy 
yoke. Like a young lion shall my son fall upon the 
prey, and like an old lion, ready to rush upon it.: who 
shall rouse him up ? The sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shi- 
loh come, and the people be gathered unto him : his 
portion shall be so fertile, that he shall bind his ass to 
the vine, and wash his garments in the juice of the 
grape. His eyes, also, shall be red with wine, and his 
teeth white with milk. 

" Zebulun shall reside on the borders of the sea; 
and his commodious havens shall extend as far as the 
city of Sidon. 

" Issachar, like a strong but indolent ass, shall volun- 
tarily submit to carry burdens in the midst of his 
brethren, rather than be deprived of his pleasant in- 
heritance ; and shall prefer tribute and servitude to the 
toils of war and conquest. 

" Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of 
Israel ; but, as a serpent, or adder, that lieth in the 

* The accomplishment of this prediction will be seen, in 
its proper place, both in the Jewish monarchs, and in the 
person of the Messiah, who is called the Lion of the tribe of 
Judah. 



TO THE EIRTH OF MOSES. 63 

path, and bites the traveller by the heel, he shall over- 
come rather by policy and stratagem than by open 
force. 

<k Gad shall be sorely tried, and frequently infested 
by robbers ; but he shall eventually overcome them. 

" Asher's portion shall make him happy ; for it shall 
abound with corn, oil, and other dainties, that shall be 
fit for a monarch's table. 

" Naphtali, like a hind newly set at liberty, shall 
excel his brethren in swiftness, and in the sweetness of 
his eloquence. 

" Joseph is a fruitful bough, planted by a well, whose 
branches run up, and spread against the wall. Men, 
armed with the envenomed arrows of rancor and envy, 
have shot at him, and caused him much affliction : but 
his bow abode in strength, and his hands were made 
strong by the mighty God of Jacob, who, from thence 
is the shepherd,* the stone of Israel, and who shall bless 
my son with blessings of heaven above, and with bless- 
ings of the deep that lieth beneath. My blessings have 
prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, unto 
the utmost bound of the everlasting hills ; they shall 
rest on the head of Joseph, and on the crowned head of 
him who was separated from his brethren. 

" Benjamin is of a fierce and warlike disposition : he 
shall, therefore, ravin as a wolf, destroying his enemies 
in the morning, and dividing the spoil at night." 

* From this prediction, it is evident that the dying patriarch 
had a glorious view, by faith, of the person and transactions of 
our Redeemer, who is repeatedly designated in scripture by 
these appellations, " the Shepherd of Israel," " the Good 
Shepherd," and " the Precious Stone," which, though reject- 
ed by the Jewish builders, is become the head of the corner. 



^4 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

Jacob, having thus pronounced his prophetical bless- 
ing to each of his sons, solemnly charged them to de- 
posit his remains in the tomb of his ancestors, and laid 
himself again on his bed, where he expired, in the hun- 
dred and forty seventh year of his age. 

At this affecting moment, Joseph threw himself upon 
the corpse of his beloved parent, and expressed all the 
sorrow which might be naturally supposed to result 
from the loss of such a friend, and the warmth of his 
own filial affection. At length, having given full vent 
to hk> grief, he ordered the body to be embalmed, and 
desired some of Pharaoh's officers to acquaint their 
royal master with his father's last request, whilst he 
himself made suitable preparations for the funeral, and 
the Egyptians devoted seventy days to respectful lamen- 
tation. Pharaoh readily granted his favourites request 
concerning the sepulture of his parent, and ordered all 
the officers of his household, and the chief grandees of 
the kingdom, to accompany the funeral pomp. - Ac^ 
cordingly the cavalcade consisted of a great number of 
chariots, and a prodigious multitude of horsemen, who, 
having crossed the Jordan, halted for seven days at 
the threshing floor of Atad, and performed some fu- 
neral ceremonies, which induced the inhabitants of 
Canaan to call the place Abel Mizraim, or " the Mourn- 
ing of the Egyptians." Then resuming their march, 
they proceeded to the cave of Machpelah, where the 
body of the venerable patriarch was interred with due 
solemnity. 

Notwithstanding the affection which Joseph had, on 
all occasions, shown toward his brethren, they were yet 
so ignorant of his magnanimous disposition, that, on 
their return from Israel's interment, they began to dread 



TO THE BIRTH OF MOSES. 65 

the effects of his resentment, and even sent an humble 
message to acquaint him that his father had earnestly- 
desired he would pardon all past injuries, and still grant 
them his protection. Joseph was affected, even to tears, 
at this circumstance ; and, sending for his petitioners, 
effectually dispersed their fears by the warmth of his 
fraternal embraces, and the readiness with which he 
promised them his future friendship and support. 
" Fear ye not," said the pious ruler of Egypt, " I will 
nourish both you and your little ones." 
B C. Nothing more is recorded of Israel's family 
1635. till the time of Joseph's death, when he sent for 
his brethren, and told them, in the same prophetic 
spirit which had illuminated his aged father, that God 
would assuredly perform his gracious promises, by- 
bringing their posterity out of Egypt, and giving them 
the land of Canaan for an inheritance. He, therefore, 
earnestly requested that they would not bury him in 
Goshen, but lay his body in a coffin, and depcsit it in 
some secure place, whence they might take it, on the 
accomplishment of his predictions, to the Land of Prom- 
ise. Having taken an oath of his brethren for the ful- 
filment of this wish, Joseph resigned his spirit into the 
hands of his Maker, in the hundred and tenth year 
of his age, having continued for the space of eighty 
years in possession of those honors which the Egyp- 
tian monarch justly conferred upon his extraordinary 
merit and wisdom. 

Subsequent to this melancholly occurrence, the de- 
scendants of Israel increased prodigiously both in 
strength and numbers : but as they were now deprived 
of their most powerful friend, and the throne was filled 
by a new prince, who was either ignorant or forgetful 
g 2 



66 FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES, &C 

of the services which Joseph had rendered to the Fgyp- 
tian crown and nation, they soon excited the jealousy 
of the natives ; who began to fear that they would even- 
tually cover the whole face of the kingdom, and, there- 
fore, resolved to w r eaken them by taxes, labours, and 
every species of tyrannical oppression. 

This cruel project was immediately put in execu- 
tion ; but as it appeared, after several years, that neith- 
er the hardships inflicted by law, nor the cruelties ex- 
ercised by the Egyptian taskmasters, produced the de- 
sired effect, the chief Hebrew mid wives were summon- 
ed to court, and strictly enjoined to destroy every new- 
born male, and let the females take their chance. But 
these women, who feared God, and abhorred the very 
idea of such unnatural barbarity, neglected their orders, 
and saved all the children without discrimination. 
Hereupon a diabolical edict was promulgated, com- 
manding that every male child of the Hebrews that 
was born should be cast into the Nile, and that none 
but the females should be permitted to live. By this 
decree the unfortunate Israelites were reduced to the 
sad necessity of drowning their own children, or of 
seeing them drowned by their merciless oppressors ; but 
whilst their hearts were rent with anguish at their hope- 
Jess situation, and the Egyptians were triumphing in 
their calamities, God was bringing about the accom- 
plishment of his immutable promise ; and an infant 
was born, to humble the pride of Egypt, and to lead his 
groaning countrymen, in triumph, from the house of 
bondage. 



67 



CHAPTER IV. 



From the Birth of Motes r to the Conquest of Canaan by 
the Israelites. 

B.C. q 

1571. OOME time after the promulgation of Pha- 
raoh's inhuman edict, Amram the son of Kohath, and 
Jochebed the daughter of Levi were blest with a son, 
of such exquisite beauty that they felt a more than or- 
dinary reluctance to obey the royal mandate, and ac- 
cordingly ventured to conceal him for the space of 
three months ; but, at length, their dread of a discovery, 
which would inevitably have been attended with fatal 
consequences, compelled them to expose him like the 
rest. Accordingly they enclosed him in a small ark of 
bulrushes, and committed him to the mercy of the wa- 
ters, leaving his sister Miriam, at a convenient distance 
to observe the event. 

The reeds and flags with which the Nile abounded 
soon arrested the progress of the ark ; and Pharaoh's 
daughter, who was approaching the river with an in- 
tent to bathe, immediately sent some of her retinue to 
fetch it. Her surprise at the sight of so lovely a child 
bathed in its own tears, and thus exposed to destruction, 
was soon succeeded by the softer emotions of com- 
passion. She justly supposed it to be the child of some 
unfortunate Hebrew, who groaned beneath her father's 
oppression, and her pity suggested the idea of saving 
such a beauteous innocent from the common ruin. 
Accordingly, she resolved to haye it educated as her 



6$ FROM THE CONFUSION OF LANGUAGES 

own son, and young Miriam, who now approached the 
princess, was sent to procure a Hebrew nurse ; in con- 
sequence of which, Jochebed received her infant once 
more to her arms, with a strict charge to use him as 
tenderly as if he were her own. As the princess did not 
know the child's name, she called him Moses, in token 
of having drawn him out of the water, and dismissed 
the nurse with a promise of ample remuneration for 
her care. Jochebed, accordingly, hastened home, to 
adore her Creator for this unexpected providence, and 
to impart her felicity to her beloved husband. 

In process of time, Moses was taken to the princess, 
who adopted him as her son, and appointed proper tu- 
tors to instruct him in all the branches of learning for 
which Egypt was renowned. But his parents had giv- 
en him such excellent counsel respecting the true wor- 
ship of the Almighty that he made no other use of the 
princely education which Pharaoh's daughter bestowed 
upon him, than to confirm himself in his detestation of 
the Egyptian idols and superstitions. Hence he pre- 
ferred the reproachful name of an Israelite to all the 
honors of the court, and took every opportunity of vis- 
iting and relieving, to the best of his ability, his unfor- 
tunate countrymen. 
B. c. Having observed, one day, an Egyptian using 
1531. a Hebrew with great barbarity he was so vio- 
lently exasperated that, seeing no person near, he rush- 
ed upon the oppressor, killed him, and buried his body 
in the sand ; he was not, however, so secure as he im- 
agined ; for on his attempting, soon afterward, to com- 
pose a quarrel between two Hebrews, whose cruel bon- 
dage could not hinder them from injuring each other, 
the most passionate of the two asked him whether he 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 69 

designed to kill him as he had already murdered the 
Egyptian ? Alarmed at this question, and dreading the 
most fatal consequences from the king's resentment, 
Moses immediately quitted Egypt, and retired with all 
possible expedition to the land of Midian, where he met 
with just such an adventure as Jacob had in Padan 
Aram : for whilst he was resting himself by the side of 
a well, the daughters of Jethro (priest of Midian) came 
out to draw water for their father's flock ; but were 
insulted and driven back by the shepherds. Moses in- 
stantly rose to espouse the cause of injured innocence, 
and, having obliged the unmannered rustics to retire, 
assisted the damsels in watering their flock. On their 
return home, Jethro inquired the cause of their dispatch, 
and, on being apprised of the stranger's generous be- 
haviour, he immediately invited him to his house, and 
kept him with him forty years ; during which time he 
entrusted him with the care of all his cattle, and gave 
him the hand of his daughter, Zipporah in marriage. 
B c. Moses seems to have lived quietly as a shep- 
1491. herd, or herdsman, in the land of Midian, with* 
out ever supposing that Providence designed to render 
him instrumental toward the emancipation of the afflict- 
ed Israelites. But, at the expiration of forty years, the 
Almighty vouchsafed to appear to him in a burning bush 
upon mount Horeb, where he called him by name, 
assuring him that he was the God of Abraham, of Isaac 
and Jacob ; and informing him that the appointed time 
was come for the deliverance of their posterity. He 
therefore commanded him to go immediately toPharaoh 
and demand their dismission ; telling him that the per- 
sons who had sought his life were now dead, and he 
had, consequently, nothing to fear from the Egyptians. 



70 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

Moses earnestly desired to be excused from this difficult 
office, and, after making several objections, hinted a 
doubt that the Hebrews had so far forgotten the God of 
their fathers that when he should open his commission 
they would ask, what his name was, in which case he 
should be at a loss for a reply. Here the Deity vouch- 
safed to return an answer which he had formerly re- 
fused to Jacob, though in terms that seem to "have im- 
plied reprehension. " I am that I am," said he, com- 
manding him to tell the Hebrews that " I am" had sent 
him unto them ; that he was the God of their progen- 
itors ; and that he would be acknowledged by this 
name, throughout all generations, as their deliverer and 
redeemer. " Not," continued he, " that the king of Egypt 
will accede to the dismission of Israel at your request ; 
but I will stretch out my hand over Egypt, and perform 
such wonders that he shall be compelled to let them 
go ; neither shall they come away unrewarded for 
their long servitude ; for every woman shall borrow of 
her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, 
jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment : and ye 
shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daugh- 
ters, and ye shall spoil the Egyptians." 

Notwithstanding these divine assurances, Moses still 
acknowledged that his doubts were not removed, and 
asked what he must do to convince the Israelites that 
God had really appearedunto him and charged him with 
such an important mission. The Almighty instantly 
removed this doubt by two miracles which he wrought 
in his presence. The first by transforming his rod 
into a frightful serpent, and then into a rod again ; and 
the second by smiting one of his hands with leprosy, 
and then restoring it to its former appearance, he also 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 7\ 

declared that if these miracles did not fully satisfy the 
Hebrews with respect to his message, he should con- 
vince them effectually by turning the waters of the Nile 
into blood. 

Still reluctant to undertake so arduous a work, Moses 
observed that an impediment in his speech rendered 
him unfit to address either the Egyptian king, or the 
elders of Israel ; but, as the Divine Being obviated this 
objection also, by appointing Aaron* for his interpreter ; 
and as his earnest petition for some other Hebrew to be 
appointed in his stead was disregarded, he hastened 
towaid Midian to make suitable preparations for his 
journey. 

Having expressed a desire to visit his brethren in 
Egypt, he easily obtained his dismission from Jethro, and 
commenced his journey, with his wife Zipporah and 
his two children ; but, being smitten with a terrible 
disease on the road, and a dispute arising respecting 
circumcising his youngest son, he sent his companions 
back to Midian ; and proceeded to Mount Horeb, 
where he met his brother Aaron, and acquainted him 
with the nature of his commission. 

On their arrival in the land of Goshen, Moses and 
Aaron assembled all the elders of the Israelites, and en- 
couraged them with the hopes of approaching deliver- 
ance ; confirming their assertions by the miracles which 
God had appointed for incontrovertible proofs of his 
gracious intention. They next went to the court, in 
order to impart their errand to Pharaoh : but the pre- 

* Aaron, son of Amram, and Jochebed, seems to have been 
born previously to the promulgation of Pharaoh's sanguinary 
I edict. 






72 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

amble " Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews," 
sounded so strangely in the ears of the idolatrous mon- 
arch, that he haughtily replied " I know not the Lord, 
neither will I let Israel go/ 5 and dismissed his petitioners 
•with a severe reprimand : at the same time ordering 
his taskmasters to double the labours of the Israelites, 
and to compel them to gather stubble instead of straw, 
which had been usually given them, for the purpose 
of drying their bricks. This command was executed 
with such tyrannical rigor, that the Hebrew overseers 
repaired in a body to the court, complaining of the 
heavy grievance, and earnestly petitioning for re- 
dress ; but Pharaoh positively refused to do them jus- 
tice, ^nd, accusing them of slothfulness, drove them out 
from his presence. In their return from the palace they 
were met by Moses and Aaron, whom they accused in 
the bitterest terms, as the authors of this new addition 
of misery. " The Lord,'* said they, " look upon you, 
and judge ; because ye have made us to be ab- 
horred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of 
his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay 
us." 

As it would have been fruitless to remonstrate, or to 
offer any thing in his own justification in the present 
posture of affairs, Moses applied to his Creator, and 
humbly expostulated on the ill success of his mission. 
And God condescended to give him fresh assurances 
of his compassion and immutable love toward his groan- 
ing worshippers, bidding him tell them, in his name, 
that he would indeed deliver them from their cruel bond- 
age, and conduct them safely into that good land which 
he had promised to their fathers. The Israelites, howev- 
er, were so completely overwhelmed with despair, that 



TO THE CONQUEST OP CANAAN. 7% 

paid but little attention to these gracious promises \ 
and Moses himself was so disheartened, that he appear- 
ed extremely reluctant to return to Pharaoh with a rep- 
etition of his request, till he was, at length, compelled 
to obey the Deity's command, by such unequivocal dec- 
larations and miraculous gifts, as precluded the possi- 
bility of further objection. 

Moses and Aaron now presented themselves, the 
second time, at the Egyptian court, and confirmed 
their commission by the first miracle, viz. that of trans- 
forming the rod into a serpent. Pharaoh merely con- 
sidered this as the effect of magic, and, sending for 
some of his most learned magicians desired them to 
give a similar instance of their art. This was immedi- 
ately done, and the only superiority which Moses ex- 
hibited was, that his rod swallowed up all those of his 
antagonists ; a circumstance which the king would nat- 
urally attribute to his skill or learning. 

This miracle was soon followed by another which 
turned all the waters of Egypt into blood, so that the 
Egyptians had not a drop that was fit for use : but, as 
the magicians imitated* this wonderful metamorphosis 
by the power of their enchantments, Pharaoh still re- 
mained incredulous, and still refused to let Israel go. 

In consequence of this obduracy God brought a 
plague of frogs upon the land, insomuch that even the 
beds, tables, and ovens of the Egyptians were literally 

* If the question be asked, Whence came the water that the 
magicians thus transformed, seeing the running and standing 
waters of Egypt were already turned to blood ? we reply, prob- 
ably from Goshen, which escaped all the plagues, or out of the 
new wells which were immediately dug about the Nile. 
H 



74 FROM THE BIRTH CF MOSES 

covered with those troublesome animals. The magi- 
cians imitated this miracle also by bringing a fresh 
swarm of frogs upon the country ; but Pharaoh was so 
dreadfully annoyed by the plague that he promised to 
set the Hebrews at liberty on condition that it was re- 
moved. Hereupon Moses prayed unto God that the 
frogs might be destroyed ; and his petition was answer- 
ed so quickly, that by the next morning there was not 
one of these animals left alive ; Pharaoh, however, had 
only consulted his own convenience by his recent prom- 
ise ; for whilst his subjects were gathering up the frogs 
in heaps for removal, lest they should create a pestilence, 
he was contriving how to violate his own declaration. 

On the discovery of this duplicity Moses touched the 
ground with his rod, in consequence of which all the 
dust of the earth was changed into innumerable swarms 
of lice, which infested man and beast in the most dread- 
ful manner. Pharaoh, still incredulous and impenitent, 
sent for his chief magicians, and ordered them once 
more to imitate the miracle : but their utmost skill was 
now baffled, and after many vain attempts to effect a 
similar transformation, they acknowledged that this 
wonder was wrought by the finger of God. 

Notwithstanding this declaration. Pharaoh continued 
inflexible to^he entreaties of Moses, and still paid so 
little attention either to the commands or judgments of 
the Deity, that God resolved to afflict him with new 
plagues, till his pride should be subdued, and Israel 
should march triumphantly out of h ; s dominions. Accord- 
ingly, on the next day, the air was filled with prodigious 
swarms of flies, whose bite was so extremely painful and 
venomous, that the mischief which they did to the Egyp- 
tians became altogether intolerable ; though none were 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 7 i> 

found in the land of Goshen, God having declared that 
he would put a division between his people and the 
subjects of Pharaoh, and that the former should enjoy 
perfect repose, whilst the latter were tormented to mad- 
ness. Pharaoh, being now alarmed for his own safety, 
sent for Moses and Aaron, and promised that they should 
sacrifice to their God, provided it were done within the 
confines of his kingdom. This proposal they rejected, 
observing that they must sacrifice such creatures as were 
worshipped by the Egyptians, and should, therefore, 
rouse the resentment of the natives to the most ungov- 
ernable pitch, insomuch that they might reasonably ex- 
pect to be stoned for sacrilege. " We will go," said they, 
" three days journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice 
to the Lord our God as he shall command us." This 
answer induced the king to suspect that his petitioners 
did not intend to return ; but at length he consented, on 
condition they should not go to a great distance, and by 
that means obtained a cessation of the plague. 

No sooner was the dreadful annoyance removed than 
the deceitful monarch returned to his former obstinacy, 
and, without scruple, violated his solemn promise. Ac- 
cordingly a fresh instance of Divine wrath appeared in 
a grievous murrain, which swept away the greatest part 
of the cattle belonging to the Egyptians, while those of 
the Hebrews remained unhurt. 

This affliction, however severe in itself, had not 
affected the person of the king, who consequently ad- 
hered to his first resolution of detaining the Israelites, and 
withstanding the Great Object of their adoration to the 
last extremity. Moses and Aaron were, therefore, com- 
manded to sprinkle ashes of the furnace toward heaven, 
and the dust thus scattered about was immediately con- 



/6 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

verted into a sore disease, which broke out in boils and 
Mains upon man and beast throughout every part of 
Egypt, except the land of Goshen. Pharaoh, according 
to custom, sent for the professors of magic ; but they 
were themselves so effectually smitten, that they durst 
not appear in the presence of Moses. 

The haughty monarch, still remaining unmoved by 
all the calamities which had befallen his dominions, 
was now informed that the voice of the God of Israel 
should be heard in thunder, and his vengeance felt in 
such tremendous storms of hail as had never been 
known since the foundation of the kingdom. Accord- 
ingly, Moses stretched out his miraculous rod toward 
heaven, and the awful threatening was instantly ac- 
complished. The sky was suddenly overspread with 
darkness ; the lightning flashed incessantly from the 
clouds ; loud claps of thunder followed each other in 
dread succession ; the hail, mingled with fire, ran along 
the ground ; men, birds, and animals, were struck life- 
less to the earth ; trees, shrubs and flowers were torn 
from their roots, and whirled into the regions of the 
air ; and nothing escaped the general devastation but 
the wheat and rye, which had but lately sprang up. 

This dreadful visitation effectually terrified Pharaoh, 
who sent hastily for the Hebrew chiefs, and addressed 
them in the language of penitent humility, earnestly 
entreating that he might be delivered from the sound of 
those dreadful thunders, and the destroying shower, on 
the cessation of which he solemnly declared that the 
Israelites should be at full liberty to depart. Hereupon 
Moses obtained a reprieve for the land, and many of the 
Egyptians, on examining the dreadful effects of the 
storm, were inspired with awe and veneration for the 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 7T 

God of Israel ; but Pharaoh still persisted in his ob- 
stinacy, and consequently drew upon himself fresh pun- 
ishments. 

Moses was now sent to threaten a more fatal curse 
than any of the preceding, namely, a plague of locusts 
which should cover the face of the ground and utterly 
destroy every blade of grass, and every other vegetable 
substance that had escaped the hail. Upon this decla- 
ration, some of the Egyptian courtiers took the liberty 
to remind their sovereign of the inestimable damage 
which his dominions had already sustained, and to pe- 
tition for the release of the Hebrews ; but upon the Is- 
raelitish chiefs demanding that the whole body of their 
people should go together, and that all their cattle and 
other property should be taken with them, he upbraid- 
ed them with their ill intentions and thrust them out 
from his presence. This behaviour was instantly fol- 
lowed by the threatened plague ; myriads of locusts 
were suddenly brought upon the land, and spreading 
themselves over the country, began to devour every 
thing which had escaped the late hail, so that Egypt 
was in reality reduced to the state of a desert, and its 
inhabitants were overwhelmed with consternation. 
Pharaoh soon perceived the dreadful consequences of 
this disaster, and earnestly sued for a reprieve, but, as 
on former occasions, his request was no sooner granted 
than he returned to his impenitence and obstinacy. 

This judgment proving ineffectual, Egypt was, soon 
afterward, smitten with darkness of so dreadful and ex- 
traordinary a nature that the Scripture informs us it 
might be felt. This mournful obscurity affected every 
part of the country, except that which was inhabited 
by the Hebrews, and continued three days, during 



78 fcROM THE BIHTH OF MOStfS 

which time the Egyptians were unable to stir out of 
their houses, cr even to discern each other, so that 
they were thrown into the utmost consternation, and 
Pharaoh himself began to be seriously alarmed for the 
event. At the first return of light, therefore, he sent 
for Moses and Aaron, and offered to permit the de- 
parture of all the sacred people, provided their cattle 
were left in his possession ; but on their refusing to ac- 
cede to this proposal he caused them to be thrust out of 
the palace, and threatened them with the heaviest ef- 
fects of his displeasure in case they ever presumed to 
appear before him again. Moses, however, was so far 
from being intimidated by this menace that he boldly de- 
clared, the Egyptians should soon experience such afflic- 
tion by the destruction of all the firstborn both of man 
and beast, that they should come, with bended knees, to 
the Israelites, and conjure them, in the most submissive 
terms, to depart out of the country ; whilst God should 
show such regard toward his own people that they should 
enjoy their usual tranquillity, and that not so much as a 
dog should dare to move his tongue against them. 

Having uttered this awful prediction, Moses retired 
to the land of Goshen, where he assembled the elders 
of Israel, and commanded that this month, which was 
then the sixth of the year, according to the common 
computation, should from thenceforth be the first month 
in the sacred calendar ; and that all other annual feasts 
should be regulated by that of the Passover.* He also 

* The ceremony of eating* the Passover was prescribed by 
Moses to the Hebrews during those transactions that passed 
between him and Pharaoh, though it is postponed to the twelfth 
chapter of Exodus, in order to avoid an interruption of those 
wonders which God had wrought on behalf of his favoured 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 79 

reminded them that on this night, they must save the 
blood -of the Paschal lamb in a bason, and sprinkle the 
two side and cross posts of their doors with it, that the 
destroying angel might look upon it, and pass over their 
houses without giving them any molestation ; in memory 
of which deliverance they were to keep a feast of un- 
leavened bread seven days, and were strictly charged to 
instruct their children in the meaning of the institution, 
that they might likewise perpetuate it to future ages. 

The appointed hour being come, and the Israelites 
having provided for their own security, by marking their 
houses according to the direction of Moses, God sent 
out his ministers of vengeance, who suddenly dispersed 
themselves through the land of Egypt, and smote all the 
firstborn with death, from the eldest son of Pharaoh to 
the firstborn of the meanest captive, and even to that of 
every animal in the kingdom. The infliction of this 
judgment was so sudden and terrific that Egypt was 
altogether confused, and every habitation of the na- 
tives resounded with groans of the dying, and fruitless 

people. Every family of the Israelites was to kill and roast a 
lamb, which they must eat with bitter herbs and unleavened 
bread, and such parts of it as remained after the repast, were to 
be burnt with fire, that none of it might remain till morning. 
The express mode of eating is also particularly mentioned, 
" Thus shall ye eat it, with your loins girded, your shoes on 
your feet, and your staves in your hands, and ye shall eat it in 
haste, for it is the Lord's Passover." We cannot quit the 
subject without reminding our readers that this was not only 
instituted as a memorial of Israel's deliverance from Egypt, but 
as a glorious type of the expiatory sufferings of the Lord Jesus 
Chrtst, in whose blood alone mankind have remission of sins, 
and who is emphatically called the Lamb of Goi that taketh 
away the sin of the world. 



■1 



80 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

lamentations of the survivors. In this dreadful exi- 
gence, the affrighted monarch sent hastily for Moses and 
Aaron, and urged them to quit the kingdom immedi- 
ately, together with their people, cattle, and all that 
they had. The Egyptians likewise hastened their de- 
parture, and willingly lent them their most valuable 
jewels and ornaments, in hopes of stopping the dread- 
ful plague which had already made a victim in every 
house. Hereupon Moses settled the best order which the 
present confusion would allow among the Hebrews, and, 
a considerable time before day break, began his march 
toward the wilderness, at the head of six hundred 
thousand men able to carry arms, besides a prodig- 
ious multitude of old men, women, children, and stran- 
gers who joined and followed them in their journey. 

As soon as they arrived at Succoth, Moses directed 
them to form a regular encampment according to their 
respective tribes and families ; and here the Deity was 
pleased to command that the firstborn both of man and 
beast should be henceforth consecrated to him, and that 
the firstborn of men should be redeemed at the price of 
five shekels of the sanctuary ; thus reminding the He- 
brews of their late extraordinary deliverance, and shad- 
owing forth our redemption by a Saviour. 

Moses, instead of taking the nearest road to Canaan 
through the country of the Philistines, led the Israelitish 
host along the coast of the Red Sea, to Etham on the 
borders of Arabia Deserta, which, in Holy Writ, is 
designated by the name of the Wilderness. But they 
soon removed, and turned toward Pihahirotb, in com- 
pliance with the injunction of their Creator, who now 
vouchsafed to guide them by a miraculous appearance, 
which in the day time resembled a column of smoke, 






TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. SI 

and at night exhibited the radiance of a pillar of fire. 
And we are expressly told that this phenomenon never 
forsook them during their wanderings in the desert ; 
but directed and regulated all their marches and evolu- 
tions through forty two encampments. 

Pharaoh had no sooner obtained a respite from the 
vengeance of his offended Maker, and shaken off the 
first impressions of terror, than he began to repent of 
dismissing so numerous a body of slaves, and thinking 
it easy to surprise them among the mountains, he re- 
solved immediately to pursue and bring them back in- 
to Egypt. With this determination he assembled a 
formidable army, and advanced, by rapid marches, to 
Pihahiroth, where he encamped in full view of the sac- 
red people ; whilst they were so violently alarmed at 
his approach, that instead of preparing to defend their 
newly acquired liberty, or relying for protection on the 
God who had already wrought such miracles in 
their behalf, they assembled in a tumultuous manner 
round the tent of their pious conductor, and ungrateful- 
ly accused him as the author of all their calamities, in- 
sultingly demanding " Were there no graves in Egypt, 
that thou hast taken us away to die in the wilderness ?"' 
Moses, however, readily pardoned their ingratitude, and 
endeavoured to inspire them with more becoming sen- 
timents. " Fear ye not," said he u but stand still and 
see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to 
you today : for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to- 
day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The 
Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." 

Having thus attempted to revive the spirits of his 
pusillanimous followers, Moses addressed himself in 
earnest prayer to God, who ordered him to advance 



32 FROM THE BIRTK OF M0SK3 

immediately toward the Red Sea, assuring him, that on 
a motion of his rod, the waters should divide, and make 
way for the Hebrews to pass through ; and that Pha- 
raoh and his idolatrous army should be certainly over- 
whelmed if they attempted to pursue them. The divine 
injunction was immediately executed ; a strong east 
wind divided the waters of the sea so that they arose in 
heaps and stood as a wall on either side ; and the mi- 
raculous pillar of fire, by removing from the front to 
the rear of the army, served not only to guide the He- 
brews, but to confound and delay the motions of the 
Egyptians, to whom it is said to have been a cloud and 
darkness. 

The .Israelites now advanced into the sea, and con- 
tinued their march with the same speed and facility as 
on dry land ; but the Egyptians, who eagerlv pursued 
them, were both retarded in their progress, and thrown 
into such confusion by the angel who conducted the fie- 
ry cloudy pillar, that they soon perceived the madness 
of their undertaking, and exclaimed with one voice u Let 
us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fighteth for 
them V 9 Retreat, however, was now impracticable ; 
for the Hebrews having reached the opposite shore in 
safety, and Moses having waved his rod in obedience 
to God's command, the suspended waves rushed im- 
petuously into their natural bed, and the proud mon- 
arch of Egypt, with all his chosen troops, was instantly 
overwhelmed. 

Whilst the sons of Israel contemplated, with mingled 
awe and gratitude, the floating spoils and carcasses of 
their enemies, Moses composed a solemn hymn of 
thanksgiving, and, dividing the assembly into two great 
choirs, caused it to be immediately performed, with 
timbrels and other musical accompaniments. 



TO THE CONqtTKST OF CANAAN. 83 

Notwithstanding the spirit of devotion which seemed 
to inspire the people whilst they chanted the high 
praises of their Almighty Deliverer, they soon began to 
exhibit that stubborn and discontented temper for which 
many of them were cut off previously to their arrival at 
the Land of Promise : for they had scarcely travelled 
three days in the desert of Shur, before the bitterness of 
the waters of MaraH caused them to murmur a second 
time against their conductor. God, however, con- 
descended to silence their complaints by sweetening the 
source of the waters, and gave them some nevy statutes, 
together with a promise of rewarding their obedience 
with the most ample blessings. The fiery pillar then 
conducted them to Elim, where they formed an encamp- 
ment on a spot that was rendered peculiarly delightful 
by twelve salubrious fountains and seventy palm trees. 

Having spent three weeks in this pleasant situation, 
they resumed their march toward the wilderness of Sin, 
where, their provisions being nearly exhausted, they 
began to murmur more violently than ever, and even 
expressed the deepest regret at having suffered Moses 
to decoy them from the flesh pots, and abundance of 
provision, which they enjoyed in Egypt, into a wilder- 
ness where they expected shortly to perish by famine. 
Yet. notwithstanding this insolent deportment, which 
was in reality levelled at God himself, they were gra- 
ciously forgiven, and assured that they should receive a 
miraculous supply. This promise was partly fulfilled 
on the same evening, by a prodigious flight of quails, 
which came pouring down from Egypt and alighted on 
every part of the lsraelitish camp : and on the next 
morning the face of the ground, toward the wilderness, 

'as covered with a kind of white dew, resembling a 



! 



#4, FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

small hoar frost, which, Moses informed his followers, 
was the bread that God had resolved to feed them with, 
during their continuance in the desert. He, therefore 
commanded them to gather a certain quantity of it every 
morning, and on the sixth to provide a double portion 
for their families, because they were not to expect any 
such supply on the seventh day, which was afterward to 
be kept holy. The bread thus miraculously given to 
the Hebrews, received the appellation of manna, from 
the general exclamation " What is this ? Whence com- 
eth it .?" and a homer full of it was carefully preserved 
in a vessel, to be afterward deposited in the ark of the 
covenant, as a perpetual memorial of this singular oc- 
currence. 

Leaving the desert of Sin, the Hebrews continued 
their route toward Mount Horeb, but on their arrival at 
Rephidim they raised fresh murmurs for want of water. 
Moses exerted himself to appease the tumult, and to 
inspire them with faith in that Adorable Being who had 
hitherto supplied their every want, but they only became 
more desperate, and even began to talk of stoning him 
to death. Hereupon he was compelled to apply to the 
Almighty, who immediately commanded him to lead 
the rebellious multitude to Mount Horeb, and lo smite 
the rock with his miraculous rod, upon which such 
abundant streams of water should gush out as would be 
more than sufficient to allay their thirst. This injunc- 
tion was instantly obeyed, and followed by the promised 
effect : and the place was called Massah and Meribah, 
or tempting and contention, on account of the murmurs 
of the ungrateful assembly. 

About this time, Israel being attacked by the Amal- 
ekites, Moses was obliged to send his servant Joshua 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 85 

with a suitable detachment against the enemy, whilst 
himself ascended a neighbouring eminence to take a 
view of the battle, and intercede with God for the vic- 
tory. Here the Almighty paid a singular regard to the 
prayers of his servant, for whilst he held up his hands 
toward heaven Joshua prevailed, and when he let them 
down the Amalekites had the advantage. At length 
finding his arms wearied, Moses desired Aaron and Hur 
to hold them up on either side till the setting of the sun, 
when his petitions were fully granted, and Joshua ob- 
tained a decisive victory. In order to perpetuate this 
important transaction, and to encourage the Hebrews 
to fight against all the nations who might oppose their 
progress, Moses erected an altar, which he called Je<- 
hovah nissi, or " the Lord is my banner,*' intimating 
that God would assuredly crown the arms of his own 
people with conquest, and that he had commanded them 
to make war upon Amalek, from generation to genera? 
tion, till his name were utterly blotted out from under 
heaven. 

The defeat of the Amalekites opened a passage for 
Israel to mount Sinai, where their temporary residence 
was to be signalized by the promulgation of the divine 
law, and the appointment of various ceremonies and in- 
stitutions that were afterward observed in the Jewish 
nation. Here also Moses received a visit from Jethro, 
Zipporah, and his two sons, and, at the instigation of the 
Midianitish priest, selected a certain number of elders 
to act as inferior judges among the Israelites, whose con- 
tentions and complaints had hitherto engrossed the 
chief of his attention, and even threatened to injure his 
health. 



86 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

B c. Shortly after this transaction, Jethro returned 
1491. t0 tne pi aC e of his nativity, and Moses having 
regulated the encampment in such a manner that a 
considerable space might be left between it and Mount 
Sinai, directed the Hebrews to sanctify themselves 
against the third day, which God had appointed for the 
promulgation of his decalogue. 

On the appointed morning the whole assembly be- 
held the Mountain of Sinai enveloped with a thick 
cloud, whence issued forth such peals of thunder, and 
terrific flashes of lightning, as filled them with dread 
and amazement. At length, the sound of a trumpet 
having given the signal, Moses conducted the people to 
the barrier which he had fixed by divine direction, and 
went up, with his brother Aaron, into the midst of the 
cloud, while the posterity of Jacob gazed, in silent aston- 
ishment, on the interesting object before them, and felt 
the ground tremble beneath their feet. After some 
time the trumpet ceased to sound, the rattling thunder 
was hushed to silence, and the voice of God was dis- 
tinctly heard from the midst of the fire and smoke, 
pronouncing the ten principal laws which were to be the 
foundation of all that should afterward be promulgated 
in the Jewish church. 

Moses soon returned from the mountain, and was re- 
ceived with the utmost veneration by the congregated 
tribes, who, during his absence, had retired to a greater 
distance from the holy hill, and who now promised the 
most implicit obedience to the sacred law ; but at the 
same time entreated that he would in future speak to them 
instead of the Deity, lest they should expire beneath those 
awful and indescribable emotions which had resulted 
from the awful sounds, that had just issued from the 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 87 

clouds. The Hebrew chief commended their awe and 
humility ; and, having given them some sonsolatory as- 
surances, went up again into the mountain, where the 
Almighty vouchsafed to add a few ceremonial institu- 
tions to the moral precepts of the decalogue, and gra- 
ciously repeated his former blessings upon all who 
should prove obedient, declaring that they should sure- 
ly enter the Land of Promise, and that they should 
gradually subdue its present idolatrous inhabiiants, till 
their possessions should extend from the Red Sea to 
the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the 
river. 

Immediately after this communication, Moses erect- 
ed an altar, and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offer- 
ings to the God of his fathers. He also caused the con- 
tents of the holy covenant to be publicly read, and, after 
exacting a solemn promise for Its fulfilment, he ratified 
it by sprinkling the altar, the book, and all the people, 
with the blood of the victims. At the end of this ceremo- 
ny he caused twelve pillars to be raised, in token of God's 
sacred alliance with the twelve tribes ; and then con- 
ducted Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, with seventy of the Is- 
raelitish elders, to the foot of the mountain, where they 
were indulged with a vision of their Adorable Maker. 

After some time, Moses committed the care of his 
people to Aaron and Hur, and went up with Joshua in- 
to the mountain, where he waited forty days, w r hile God 
gave him the ten commandments on two tables of stone* 
together with the whole plan of the Jewish tabernacle, 
sacred utensils, sacerdotal robes, and mode of wor- 
ship ; and commanded him to exact from the Israel- 
ites an offering of gold, silver, brass, scarlet, silk,wooh 



#8 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

oil, spices, and all other materials, according to their 
respective abilities. 

Meanwhile, the Hebrews were so astonished at their 
leader's absence, that, alter they had waited above a 
month, in expectation of his return, they gave him over 
for lost, and desired Aaron to make them some gods 
that might guide, and protect them in their future pro- 
gress. Aaron readily acceded to this impious request, 
and) having desired them to bring him all their golden 
ornaments, formed a molten calf, in imitation of the 
Egyptian Apis, and, fixing it on a pedestal, exclaimed, 
14 These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up 
out of the land of Egypt !" lie likewise erected an al- 
tar before the idol, and made proclamation that the 
next day should be held as a solemn festival, which was, 
accordingly, commenced with offering various sacrifi- 
ces, and concluded with dancing and revelry. 

Moses, having attended, for the space of forty days, 
to the divine injunctions of his Creator, w r as at length 
commanded to return to his people, who had, by the 
most shameful apostacy, forfeited that protection which 
alone could bring them into the Promised Land. " Get 
thee down," said the Almighty, " for thy people whom 
thou broughtest out of Egypt have corrupted them- 
selves, and turned aside quickly out of the way which 
I commanded them : for they have made them a mol- 
ten calf, and have worshipped it, and sacrificed there- 
unto, saying, " These are thy gods, () Israel, which 
brought thee out of Egypt." This assertion was im- 
mediately followed by a menace of the most alarm- 
ing nature ; but Moses interceded so powerfully on 
behalf of the unthinking rebels, and urged so forcibly 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 89 

the gracious promises which had been given to 
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that God* acceded to 
his request, and mitigated the punishment of the of- 
fenders. 

The Hebrew chief now descended from the moun- 
tain, with the two tables of stone in his hands, but on 
his approaching the camp, and perceiving the Israelites 
dancing round the new object of their adoration, he 
was overwhelmed with concern and confusion, and, 
in the first transports of rage, broke the tables of the 
decalogue. He then upbraided his brother, in the se- 
verest teims, with having been accessary to the public 
crime, and immediately set himself about the destruc- 
tion of the idol, which he caused to be burnt, pulverized, 
and thrown into the water, of which he compelled all 
the congregation to drink. During this transaction he 
cried with a loud voice, " Who is on the Lord's side ?" 
and finding himself immediately joined by the tribe of 
Levi, htj caused them to gird on their swords, and to 
slay indifferently all persons who still remained at the 
idolatrous feast, without regard to quality, friendship, or 
affinity. This command wa9 instantly executed, and 
about three thousand individuals perished for their dis- 
obedience. But on the following day Moses went up 
again to the mountain, and renewed his supinations 
with such success, that the offended Deity not only 

* As, on the one hand, we are told that God is not a man 
that he should lie, neither the son of man that he should re- 
pent, and as, on the other, we read in this, and several other 
parts of the Old Testament, that God repented of the evil which 
he thought to do unto the people, it is proper to observe, that 
this expression was merely accommodated to the ideas of the 
Jews, the same as they were told of the sun and moon stand- 
ing still, as will be seen in our account of Joshua's transactions. 
I 2 



90 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

pardoned the survivors, but renewed his former promise 
of leading them to the land of Canaan, under the im- 
mediate conduct of his angel. The pardon and promise, 
however, were both so far conditional, that the people 
should perform a public act of humiliation, as a proof 
of their repentance, and that they should behave with 
greater propriety in future ; for, in case of any relapse, 
they were assured that this crime would be remember- 
ed against them " In the day when I visit," said God, 
" I will visit their sin upon them." 

In consequence of this intimation a solemn fast was 
held in the camp, during which the Hebrews laid aside 
all their costly raiment and personal ornaments, and 
went out (doubtless to confess their sins) to the taberna- 
cle of the Lord, which Moses had removed* to a con- 
siderable distance from the camp. At the same time 
God vouchsafed to console his servant Moses with a 
sight of his glory, or of that angel (Jesus Christ) under 
•whose protection the Israelites were to subdue their 
enemies, and eventually take possession of the Promis- 
ed Land. 

Moses, having tarried on the hill of Sinai forty days 
and nights, made two new tables like those which he 
had destroyed, and received some farther instructions 
from his Maker, came down again to the Israelites ; 
who observed, with astonishment, that his face had 
acquired such a peculiar lustre as incapacitated them 
from looking steadily upon him, till he had covered it 

* This passage should remind us that man is removed, by sin, 
to a considerable distance from God ; and that this action of 
Moses was also figurative of the death of our Saviour, who 
offered himself for the sin of the world without or beyond the 
limits of the city of J erusalem. 



TO THE CONQUEST 05 CANAAN. 91 

with a veil. He then desired the congregation to bring 
a voluntary offering of different materials for the holy 
tabernacle, utensils, pontifical garments, Sec. and he 
-was immediately supplied with a profusion of jewels, 
metals, ointments, perfumes, and every other requisite 
article, which he distributed to proper workmen and ar- 
tificers, under the direction of Aholiab and Bezaleel, 
whom God had endowed with peculiar skill to contrive? 
and ability to execute the various designs that had been 
showed to Moses on the mountain. The work was, 
also, performed with such alacrity and diligence that, 
in less than six months the new tabernacle, with all its 
magnificent furniture and apparatus, was set up at the 
foot of Sinai, and the pompous worship of the Israelites 
was begun ; in the institution of which, consideration 
was chiefly had to showing the indispensable necessity 
of an atonement for every sin, and to shadow forth, in 
the strongest colours, the nature and effects of that great 
sacrifice which should be, afterwards, offered on Mount 
Calvary by the coequal son of God, for the redemption 
of a guilty world. 
B. C. Aaron had not long enjoyed the high priest- 
1490. hood before his two sons, Nadab and Abihu 
were struck dead by fire from heaven, as a punishment 
for their having presumed to offer incence, in the taber* 
nacle, with strange fire, contrary to the Divine injunc- 
tion. 

Israel, whose rebellious disposition had been mani- 
fested on so many occasions since their emancipation 
from Egyptian tyranny, were still so unmindful either 
of the mercies or the judgments of their God, that they 
daringly insulted both him and his servant Moses on the 
most trifling occasions, and consequently often incurred 



92 FROM T*£ EIHTK OF MOSES 

the effects of Divine displeasure. Thus a general mur- 
muring at Taberah, on account of a fatiguing march, 
occasioned the destruction of part of their camp by mi- 
raculous fire ; an insolent complaint against the manna, 
and a riotous demand for flesh, was followed by a 
dreadful disease which swept off prodigious numbers 
who were feasting on an abundant supply of quails ; and 
an insurrection which resulted from mere distrust and 
cowardice, at the report of some spies whom Moses 
had sent to examine the borders of Canaan, caused 
their offended Maker to affirm that none of them, except 
Joshua and Caleb, w T ho were above twenty years old, 
should take possession of that fertile land ; but that they 
should rove about, from place to place, till their bod- 
ies should fall in the wilderness. 

Notwithstanding this ungrateful conduct on the part 
of the Israelites, God continued, for the space of 
thirty nine years, to display his providence in the most 
conspicuous manner, forming and polishing the new 
generation for whom the Land of Promise was reserved. 
The fiery cloudy pillar still continued to direct their 
movements, the manna still descended for their daily 
consumption, and such was the Deity's care of his peo- 
ple, that their raiment remained uninjured, their shoes 
whole, and their feet unhurt, notwithstanding their long 
and frequent marches in the Arabian desert. And with 
respect to their rebe-lions they were so surely and imme- 
diately followed by an exemplary chastisement, that they 
cou-d neither be flattered with hopes of impunity, nor 
countenanced by the number of offenders. A circum- 
stance which seems to have been the chief cause of 
their zeal against the sabbath breaker, whom they 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 93 

brought before Moses, and caused him lo be stoned to 
death. 
B. C. About this time a dangerous conspiracy was 
1471. formed against Moses, by Korah, a descend- 
ant of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, two descendant* 
of Reuben, who repined at the fortune of Aaron's fam- 
ily in being invested with the priesthood ; and urged 
so many things against the ambition of Moses, that they 
soon engaged two hundred and fifty more Hebrews in 
their design. When they had thus secured a powerful 
party, Korah put himself at their head, and, confront- 
ing the Israelitish chiefs, began to upbraid them with 
engrossing all power civil and ecclesiastical, to the 
utter exclusion of the rest of the congregation, whom he 
asserted to be as holy as they. Moses was much sur- 
prised at this address, and boldly rebuked the malecon- 
tents for their presumption, but declined further debate, 
till the ensuing morning, when the Lord would declare 
openly in favour of that party which acted consistently 
with his own will. Moses then sent to desire a private 
conference with Dathan and Abiram, whom he suppos- 
ed to have been inveigled into the conspiracy : but they 
positively refused their attendance, and even returned 
an insolent answer, in which they upbraided him with 
having decoyed the whole nation of Israel out of the 
fertile land of Egypt, under pretence of bringing them 
to a land that flowed with milk and honey, instead of 
which he detained them in the wilderness for the ex- 
press purpose of making them greater slaves to his am- 
bition. A charge so false and cruel, that Moses, on 
hearing it, lost his usual serenity of temper, and ex- 
claimed, " Respect not thou, O Lord, their offering, for 
I have not taken even an ass from them, neither have I 
hurt one of them," 



94 FROI>I THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

Early next morning, Moses and Aaron repaired to 
the tabernacle, whither Korah and his two hundred and 
fifty partisans came, soon afterward, each bearing a 
censer in his hand : and these were followed by a mul- 
titude of the Hebrews, who had assembled to be spec- 
tators on so interesting an occasion. The first objects 
that attracted their attention were the divine glory above 
the tabernacle, and a voice which commanded the high 
priest and legislator to withdraw themselves from among 
the rebellious congregation, lest they should be involved 
in the general ruin which w r as ready to overwhelm 
them : but Moses again undertook to make intercession 
for the people, and pleaded their cause so pathetically, 
that they were permitted to elude the threatened ven- 
geance by retiring to a distance from the conspirators. 
When the crowd had separated themselves from these 
men, according to the direction of their Heavenly Pat- 
ron, Moses publicly declared, that if the ringleaders of 
the rebellion died a common death he would suffer his 
divine mission to be disputed ; but that if the earth im- 
mediately opened and swallowed them up, then he 
should expect the congregation would acknowledge 
the impiety of those who had so audaciously provoked 
the Lord to wrath. He had scarcely uttered these 
words before the families of the conspirators were 
buried alive by a partial earthquake, and the two hun- 
dred and fifty men who stood with their censers before 
the tabernacle, were utterly consumed by a supernat- 
ural fire* that is said to have come out from the pres- 
ence of the Lord. 

* To perpetuate the recollection of this transaction, the bra- 
sen censers of Korah and his companions were taken out of the 
five, and beaten into broad plates for a covering of the altar. 



TO TOE CONQUEST OF CANAAN, 95 

Notwithstanding this awful proof of Divine indigna- 
tion, and the consternation which induced the astonished 
tribes to exclaim, " let us flee, lest the earth swallow 
us up also," the congregation soon renewed their mur- 
murs, and basely accused Moses and Aaron of having 
murdered the people of the Lord. Hereupon the He- 
brew chiefs ran to the tabernacle, and Moses, per- 
ceiving that some dreadful judgment was about to fall 
on the rioters, urged his brother to take his censer and 
make an atonement with all possible dispatch ; but, 
though Aaron exerted himself as quickly as possible, a 
pestilence had already begun, and raged so furiously 
that fourteen thousand and seven hundred individuals 
had already been swept to an untimely grave, besides 
those that had perished in Koran's rebellion ; the high 
priest, however, continued his kind office, and, by stand- 
ing between the dead and the living, at length effected 
his design. Upon this occasion, God vouchsafed to 
give a new and convincing confirmation of Aaron's au- 
thority ; for Aaron on the one side, and the head of 
every tribe, on the other, having written their names 
upon so many almond rods, and deposited them in the 
tabernacle, it appeared, next morning, that all of them 
remained unchanged except that of the high priest, 
which had budded and brought forth leaves and ripe al- 
monds. Accordingly Moses exhibited them to the con- 
gregation, and that which had undergone so extraordi- 
nary a change was carefully placed in the ark, as a tes- 
timony to future ages, of God's appointment, and of Is- 
rael's aptitude to rebel against their Maker. From this 
day, likewise, all the people of Israel, except the de- 
scendants of Aaron, where prohibited from entering 
the tabernacle under pain of death. 



95 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

B. C. After the Israelites had wandered about the 
1453. desert of Arabia Petnea for near thirty years, 
and near thirty nine were elapsed since their release 
from the house of bondage, they removed from Ezion- 
Gaber toward Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, where 
a fresh insurrection was excited by a temporary want of 
water, and Moses was commanded to bring them a 
seasonable supply, by smiting an adjacent rock ; but, 
either out of impatience at the murmurs of the assem- 
bly, or from some secret cause, he smote the rock twice 
with his rod, and exclaimed, " Hear now ye rebels, must 
we fetch you water out of this rock ?" For this intem- 
perate deportment and these expressions, which were 
both indecent in themselves and derogatory to the hon- 
or of the Almighty, God excluded him from entering 
the Land of Promise, and condemned him to die in the 
wilderness. 

Shortly after this occurrence, Moses sent a deputation 
to the king of Edom, reminding him of the severe af- 
flictions which the Israelites had sustained in Egypt, 
and requesting permission to pass through his domin- 
ions in their way to Canaan. The royal Edomite, how* 
ever, peremptorily refused his consent, and Israel, being 
either unwilling to take up arms against their brethren, 
or commanded to avoid hostilities, turned aside, and con* 
tinued their march toward mount Hor ; where Moses 
was commanded to conduct Aaron and his son Eleazar 
to the summit of the hill, and to invest the latter with 
the sacerdotal robes. This ceremony was no sooner 
performed, than Aaron resigned his soul into the 
hands of his Creator, in the hundred and twenty third 
year of his age, and his remains were interred on the 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAK. 9? 

spot ; but the place was kept* so private that none of 
the inhabitants of that country could ever discover it. 
The children of Israel devoted seventy days to mourn- 
ing ; and Eleazar succeeded his deceased father in the 
high priesthood. 

About this time the Israelites attempted to enter Ca- 
naan by the narrow passes called the " Way of the 
Spies ;" but a Canaanitish prince, called Arad, over- 
threw them in battle, and took several prisoners. Here- 
upon they solemnly vowed to destroy all the cities of 
Arad, on condition that God would crown their arms 
with success, and, soon afterward, they renewed the 
attack with such success, that the king was utterly de- 
feated, and all his towns were rased to the ground ; in 
consequence of which the field of battle was called 
Horniah, or utter destruction, though the reduction of 
the country did not take place till some time after the 
death of Moses. 

From mount Hor the congregation journeyed along 
the coast of the Red Sea, to compass Idumea ; but the 
united inconveniences of a fatiguing march, and a. 
scarcity of provision, induced them to murmur so 
loudly against their conductor, that the Deity sent a 
prodigious number of fiery serpents into the camp, which 
destroyed many of the people, and alarmed the sur- 
vivors so effectually, that they voluntarily acknowledged 
their transgression, and humbly requested Moses to in- 
tercede with God on their behalf. Accordingly the 
Hebrew legislator offered up his prayers for their pres- 

* Had not the Divine wisdom taken this precaution both on 
this occasion and at the death of Moses, the Hebrew high- 
priest and legislator would assuredly have received divine 
honors, in future ages, from a people so prone to idolatry. 
K 



98 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

crvation, and God commanded him to make a brazen 
serpent of the same figure as those that infested them, 
and to set it on a pole, that as many as were bitten 
might look upon it and be healed.* 
B. c. Being happily delivered from this plague, the 
1452. Israelites removed to Oboth, and thence to Ije- 
abarim, which, being situated in that part of the wilder- 
ness which lies over against the land of Moab east- 
ward, is called the desert of Moab. As they were, af- 
terward, removing to pass the valley of Zared, God for- 
bade them to commit any hostilities against Moab and 
Ammon, because he had given the land which those 
nations enjoyed, for a peaceable possession. The He- 
brews were therefore obliged to take a considerable 
compass round the country ; but, after some time, they 
arrived at Bamoth Anion, or the high places of Anion, 
and formed an encampment at the foot of Mount 
Pisgah. 

After several marches between Moabitis and the land 
of Ammon, the Hebrews came, at length, to the coun- 
try of the Amontes, and sent to request permission to 
pass through in their journey to Canaan ; but, Sihon, 
king of Heshboii, having refused to admit th tip. into his 
dominions upon any consideration, a battle ensued, 
which terminated in his death, and the utter subversion 

* We would earnestly desire our readers to recollect that 
this serpent was net merely set up for a remedy to the existing 
evil, bat as a glorious type of Jesus Christ, who, in the days 
of his incarnation, told Nicodemus that " as Moses lifted up 
the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be 
lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, 
hut have eternal life." See the gospel of St John, chap, iii 
v^fses 14, 15. 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. $9 

of his kingdom : for the Israelites, having seized all the 
country from the brook of Arnon unto that of Jabbok, 
massacred all the inhabitants without distinction. Og, 
the king of Bashan attempted, soon after this transac- 
tion, to arrest the progress of Israel's victories ; but he, 
like Sihon, was soon despoiled both of his dominions 
and his life. 

After these exploits, the Hebrews resumed their 
journey, and proceeded to the plains of Moab, which 
were situated on this side Jordan, by Jericho. Whilst 
they were encamped in this place, Balak, king of the 
Moabites, began to regard them with a jealous eye, and 
formed a strong alliance with the Midianites and Am« 
monites, in order to retard their progress : but previa 
ously to declaring hostilities, he resolved to try how far 
the power of enchantment might operate against the 
objects of his mingled dread and envy. Accordingly 
he dispatched messengers to Pethor, in quest of a fa* 
mous diviner, called Balaam, earnestly requesting that 
he would come to court with all possible haste, and 
curse the numerous host which had given such cause 
of uneasiness to the king and his allies. Balaam desired 
the messengers to remain at his house that night, in 
order that he might inquire of God whether he should 
comply with their master's desire ; but, being warned 
not to undertake the journey, nor to presume to curse 
the especial favourites of Heaven, he told them next 
morning that the Lord had refused his permission, and 
so dismissed them. 

Balak was much disappointed at this answer ; but 
still resolved to gain the accomplishment of his wish, 
and sent a fresh deputation, consisting of persons of 
distinguished quality, who might possibly allure the 



}0$ FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

prophet by promises of preferment, and an ample remu- 
neration. To their splendid offers Balaam replied, 
■that if the king would give him his house full of silver 
and gold, he durst not transgress the command of the 
AJmighty.. However, being anxious to gratify them, 
he consulted the Deity once more, and obtained per- 
mission to go, on condition that he said nothing incon- 
sistent with the decrees of Providence. Hereupon he 
rose early in the morning, and set out, with the Moa- 
bitish nobles ; but it seems that he either designed to 
violate the Divine injunction, or pleased himself with 
t:he hope of eluding it, and thus obtaining the favour of 
Balak : for his progress was soon impeded by an an- 
gel, who with a drawn sword, terrified the ass on which 
the diviner rode, and caused her to turn three times 
out of the way. Balaam, not perceiving the celestial 
opponent, was greatly irritated at the supposed stub- 
bornness of his beast, and struck her repeatedly with 
his staff : but the Lord miraculously opened the ani- 
Bial's mouth, and caused her to expostulate with her 
master on his unmerited severity. The prophet, how- 
ever, paid no attention to this prodigy, till perceiving 
the angel, he was convinced of his errcr, and prostrated 
himself on the ground, exclaiming, " I have sinned ; 
for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against 
me : now, therefore, if it displease thee, I will go back 
again." This proposal, however, was rejected, and Ba- 
laam was permitted to proceed, after receiving a fresh 
injunction to say nothing more than God himself should 
dictate. 

Balak, hearing of the prophet's arrival, went out to 
meet him in one of the frontier cities of his kingdom, 
and took him thence to Kirja.thhazoth, where he offer- 
ed a sacrifice of sheep and oxen, and introduced his 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 101 

guest to all the princes of Midian. Next morning he 
conducted him to the high places of Baal on Mount Aba- 
rim, whence he might have an entire prospect of the 
Israelitish camp ; and there the king built seven altars, 
and offered a bullock and a ram upon each altar, a cer- 
emony which was afterward repeated in two other 
places. But as Balaam was utterly disappointed in seek- 
ing for enchantments that might enable him to fulfil his 
employer's request, and as he was positively com- 
manded to utter a benediction instead of a curse, he 
confessed at the third time of offering the sacrifice, that 
no enchantment could prevail against Jacob, nor any di- 
vination against Israel, and pronounced an emphatic 
blessing on Israel, saying, " Blessed is he that blesseth 
thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." The king, 
enraged at this frustration of his hopes, commanded the 
prophet to retire immediately from his dominions, and 
Balaam returned home : but it appears that, previously 
to his departure, he advised the Moabites and Midianites 
to entice the Hebrews to idolatry : for we read that the 
tribes of Jacob were, shortly afterward, invited to the 
idolatrous sacrifices, and allured to the most unpardon- 
able practices by the Moabitish women, so that, at last, 
they introduced their fair deluders into the camp, and 
abandoned themselves to such incontinence, that God 
sent a pestilence among them, which swept off about 
twenty four thousand individuals ; and Moses was com- 
manded to try and hang all the heads of the people 
who had countenanced this defection. Notwithstand- 
ing the awful effects of the plague, the execution of 
the command given to Moses, and the consternation 
which now began to overwhelm the generality of the 
survivors, a chief of the tribe of Simeon, named Zimri, 
k2 



102 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

had the unparalleled audacity to bring a Midianitish fe- 
male into the camp, and to lead her, in sight of the 
whole congregation, toward his tent. His presump- 
tion, however* was soon punished : for Phinehas, son 
of Eleazar the high priest, followed the idolatrous pair, 
and with a javelin thrust them through their bodies ; for 
which act of pious zeal God confirmed the priesthood 
to the posterity of Phinehas, and the plague was imme- 
diately stayed. 

Some time after this defection, God commanded Mo- 
ses to take an account of all the Israelites that were able 
to bear arms, from twenty years old and upward, whom 
he, accordingly, found to amount to six hundred and 
one thousand seven hundred and thirty, exclusive of the 
Levites, who being numbered from one month and up- 
ward, amounted to twenty three thousand. This ac- 
count was taken in the plains of Moab ; and it appears 
that the recent pestilence made an entire end of the re- 
bellious generation, which had been excluded from en- 
tering the Land of Promise ; for, on examination, there 
was not one of them found, e- ept Joshua and Caleb, 
who had been exempted from the sentence that was 
pronounced against the murmuring assembly in the wil- 
derness of Seir : " The Lord/' says the inspired pen- 
man, " had said of them, They shall surely die in the 
wilderness. And there was not left a man of them save 
Caleb the son of Jephtmneh, and Joshua the son of 
Nun." 

Shortly after this transaction, Moses was commanded 
to ascend Mount Nebo, which is a part of the long 
ridge called Abarim, and take a view of the delightful 
country from which he was excluded, on account of his 
improper conduct in the desert of Zin ; and he was 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN". JOI 

also, given to understand that he should die very soon 

In this mountain. The Jewish legislator obeyed his 
Maker's injunction, and, Without testifying the least 
surprise or dread) at the intimation of his approaching 
dissolution, he earnestly requested that a successor 
might be appointed to guide and direct the Israelites in 

their further progress ; that the sabred congregation 
might not become like a Hock of sheep having no shep* 
herd. To this petition the Deity replied, by command- 
ing him to set Joshua, the sou of Nun, before the high 
priest and all the assembly of Israel, and to invest him, 
in the most public manner, with ample authority. And 
Moses took the earliest opportunity of Setting this fav- 
ourite of Heaven apart, hy the imposition of his own 
hands, and with the general consent of the people, as 
head and general of the twelve tribes who were about 
to take possession of that good land, which their fathers 
had forfeited by disobedience. 

After Moses had instructed the people m several Cer« 
emonial institutes and regulations, he received a com- 
mand from the Almighty to avenge the Israelites on 
the people of Midian, who, as we have already observ- 
ed, occasioned a gfbSB and fatal defection after Balaam 
had exerted himself in vain to involve them in a general 
curse. Accordingly, a detachment, consisting of twelve 
thousand men, was sent against the enemy , and Cod 
crowned their exertions with such brilliant success, that 
five Midianitish princes were slain \/y the sword ; their 
cities were reduced to ashes ; the male inhabitants-, 
among whom was the prophet Balaam, were all slaugh- 
tered without distinction ; the women and children 
were taken captive ; and the victors returned to Moses 



KH FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

with an immense booty, one half of which they received* 
as the due reward of their valour ; a fiftieth part was 
given to the Levites ; and the remainder was distributed 
among such of the people as had remained with their 
venerable lawgiver. It must likewise be observed, 
that the people were so grateful for the safe return of 
all their brethren who had gone upon this expedition, 
that they voluntarily presented to the Lord an offering 
of the gold chains, earrings and bracelets, which they 
had taken, amounting to the weight of sixteen thousand 
seven hundred and fifty shekels, which were immedi- 
ately deposited, by Eleazar, in the tabernacle. 
B. C. As the Israelites were now on the eve of en- 
1451. tering into Canaan, Moses appointed the limits 
of the country which they were to conquer, and the 
distribution of it to the twelve tribes, by lot, under the 
care of Joshua and Eleazar. He also allotted forty- 
eight cities to the Levites, with this stipulation, that six 
of them should be cities of refuge for the man slayer ; 
and desired the people to marry in their own tribes, in 
order to avoid the inconvenience of the inheritance of 
daughters. He then recapitulated all that had happened 
to the sons of Jacob since their departure out of Egypt ; 
directed Joshua and the elders to erect a capacious altar 
upon Mount Ebal, upon which they should write all 
the Divine laws ; desired them to set up the blessings 
and curses, in sight of all Israel, upon the mountains 
Ebal and Gerizzem ; and composed a song or can- 
ticle, to be learned by the Hebrew nation and their 
posterity. 

Having thus fulfilled his last public duties, delivered 
a duplicate of the law to be preserved in the ark, and 
pronounced a prophetical blessing to his people, Moses 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 105" 

ascended Mount Nebo, according to the direction of his 
Creator, and there expired in the hundred and twenti- 
eth year of his age. We are likewise told, that the 
Lord conveyed his body into a certain valley in the land 
of Moab, and buried it so privately that no person could 
ever discover the spot of his sepulture. 
B C After the Israelites had mourned, an entire 
1451. monLh, for the loss of their venerable legislator, 
Joshua their new general, received a command to cross 
the Jordan, and to take possession of that good land 
which was destined for their inheritance. According- 
ly he sent two prudent persons to examine Jericho, 
and to procure the best intelligence respecting the nat- 
ural and political strength of the country which they 
were about to attack. These spies, having crossed the 
river, obtained a lodging at the house of a woman call- 
ed Rahab ; but, their arrival being notified to the king 
of Jericho, they were immediately ordered to be arrest- 
ed, and would indisputably have fallen into the enemy's 
hands, had not their hostess generously concealed them 
under some, stalks of fiax, and, afterward, let them 
down by a rope from one of her back windows, which 
overlooked the city wall. To reward this act of kind- 
ness, they promised that both Rahab and her family- 
should be exempted from the general destruction 
which would soon overwhelm the city ; and, having 
desired her to suspend a scarlet line from her window, 
to remind them of this assurance, they retired to the 
mountains for three days, to elude the search of the 
king's officers, and then returned to Joshua with an ac- 
count of their expedition. 

The universal consternation which appeared to per- 
vade every part of the Canaanitish nations ; and caus- 



106 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

ed Rahab to acknowledge " Your terror is fallen upon 
us, and all the inhabitants of the land faint because of 
you," inspired Joshua with fresh courage, and enliv- 
ened the people with the hope of speedily obtaining 
the result of their long and ardent expectations. 

A proclamation was accordingly, issued out for the 
removal of the camp ; and, on the morrow, the Lord 
magnified himself, according to his promise, among 
the sacred tribes : for the priests, who marched at the 
head of the multitude, bearing the ark of the covenant, 
had no sooner advanced to the brink of Jordan than the 
waters divided, as on a former occasion at the Red Sea, 
and afforded an easy passage to the people. During the 
time of their passing, the priests remained in the midst 
of the river with the sacred symbol of the divine pres- 
ence, and Joshua, to perpetuate the memory of this in- 
teresting circumstance, caused twelve large stones to 
be laid upon each other on the spot where the ark rest- 
ed ; and commanded that twelve other stones should 
be taken from the bottom of the river to erect a mon- 
ument on the Canaanitish shore. 

These orders being executed, Joshua left the river 
to resume its usual course, and pursued his march to 
Gilgal, in the plains of Jericho, where the rite of cir- 
eumcision, which had been omitted during the peregri- 
nations of Israel in the wilderness, was renewed ; and 
where the general, during the celebration of the passo- 
ver, received particular instructions from an angel of 
God respecting the siege of Jericho. 

Pursuant to these directions, Joshua commanded the 
priests to take up the ark, and carry it in procession 
round the city, preceded by seven men of the sacer- 
dotal order, bearing each a trumpet of ram's horn 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. 107 

In his hand, and accompanied by all the warriors ; 
but they were expressly forbidden either to shout or 
speak till the day when they were commanded. These 
injunctions were immediately fulfilled, and repeated 
wi'h the same silence and decorum for six days ; but 
on the seventh clay they marched round the city seven 
times, and at the seventh time the priests sounded their 
trumpets, and the people raised a general shout ; upon 
which the walls of Jericho instantly fell to the ground, 
and the idolatrous inhabitants became an easy prey : 
for no sooner were Rahab and her family conveyed to 
a place of safety, than the Israelites massacred all the 
men, women, and children, that they found, together 
with all the cattle. They also reduced the buildings to 
ashes, after depositing all the gold, silver, Sec. in the 
sacred treasury ; and Joshua pronounced a heavy curse 
against the man v\ ho should ever presume to rebuild a 
place which the Lord had devoted to destruction. 

After this important conquest, Joshua sent a detach- 
ment cf three thousand men against the king of Ai, a 
little state about ten miles distant from Jericho ; but 
they were unexpectedly repulsed, and compelled to re- 
tire with the loss of thirty six men. This accident cast 
such a damp upon the people, that Joshua was compel- 
led to have recourse to the Almighty, who answered 
him, by * urim, that a sacrilege had been committed, 

* The ordinance of consulting- the urim and thummim was 
performed with great ceremony. The high priest, drestin his 
pontifical vestments and breastplate, went into the holy 
place, and turned his face toward the sanctum sanctorum, or 
holy of holies, whilst he inquired of the Lord ; but how the 
Divine oracle gave its answer, aone of the learned, Jews nor 



103 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

and ordered him to discover the delinquent, that he 
might be punished with death. Accordingly lots were 
cast upon the tribes and families, and Achan, of the 
tribe ol Judah, was found to be the cause of the recent 
calamity. Hereupon he confessed that he had conceal- 
ed some of the plunder of Jericho, and his crime being 
verified by an immediate search, he was conveyed into 
an adjacent valley and stoned to death : in memory of 
which occurrence a monument of stones was erected, 
and the valley was, ever after, designated by the name 
of Achor, or trouble. 

Having, by this execution, freed the people from con- 
demnation, Joshua led a more formidable army against 
Ai, and prudently stationed a party of five thousand 
men, as an ambush, behind the city. On his near ap- 
proach he was attacked by the men of Ai, and imme- 
diately faced about ; a movement which inspired the 
king with the warmest hopes, and induced him to order 
every man to leave the city and join in the pursuit. 
The town, being thus left defenceless, was instantly en- 
tered and set on fire by the Hebrew ambuscade, and 
while its smoke ascended to heaven the politic fugitives 
stopped short, and attacked their pursuers ; who, finding 
themselves completely hemmed in on every side, soon 
lost their courage, and were all cut to pieces except their 
unfortunate prince, who was taken captive and sentenced 
to be hanged. The city also was reduced to ashes, and 
all its inhabitants were massacred without distinction. 

Christians, have ever been able to determine. It certainly did 
not continue any longer than the tabernacle ; for we find no 
mention of its being consulted subsequent to the building of 
Solomon's temple. 



'TO THE CONQUEST OF CA\AAN. 109 

The fatal catastrophe of Jericho and Ai alarmed all 
xhe neighbouring kingdoms, and induced most of their 
sovereigns to form an alliance against the common 
enemy. The people of Gibeon, however, thought 
proper to elude the impending danger by stratagems 
and accordingly sent ambassadors to Joshua, desiring his 
friendship, and deprecating that wrath which had been 
already so severely felt in Canaan. These men, hav- 
ing received their instructions, arrived at the Israeliiish 
camp with tattered garments, old clouted shoes, and 
mouldy bread ; and affirmed that they had come from 
a distant country to pay their homage to, and request a 
league of amity with the people whom God had blessed 
in so extraordinary a manner. These professions, togeth- 
er with their wretched appearance, convinced Joshua 
that they were really natives of a distant land, and, 
under that idea, he concluded a league with them, 
without asking counsel of the Lord. However, at the 
expiration of three days, the artifice was discovered ; and 
the deceitful Gibeonites, though-secured from extirpa- 
tion, were sentenced to become hewers of wood and 
drawers of water to their new allies. 

Adonizedek, king of Jerusalem, was no sooner ap- 
prized of this circumstance, than he resolved to make 
an example of the cowardly Gibeonites, and accordingly 
led his forces, with those of four other kings, against 
their capital city, which was both stronger and more 
considerable than Ai, but which could not be supposed 
to resist so formidable a host of besiegers. In this exi- 
gence, therefore, the inhabitants applied for succour to 
Joshua, who generously hastened to their relief, and 
compelled the royal confederates to retire with precipi- 
tation. As they were fleeing in the utmost disorder. 



110 FROM THE BIRTH OF MOSES 

and had almost reached Beth Horon, there fell a shower 
of hailstones of such an enormous size, that they did 
greater execution than the swords of the Hebrews. As, 
however, it was probable that many might escape in the 
general dispersion, Joshua commanded the sun to stand 
still upon Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Aja- 
lon, till the victory should be complete, and God vouch- 
safed to prolong the light of the day for that purpose.* 

The success which attended Israel, and the miracle 
which God wrought for the destruction of his enemies, 
effectually destroyed the hopes of the five kin^s, and 
induced them to take refuge in a solitary cave near 
the city of Makkeduh : but their retreat being discov- 
ered, the mouth of their cave was stopped up till the 
victors returned from the pursuit, when they were 
dragged out and trodden under foot by the chiefs of Is- 
rael : they were, afterward, put to death, and hung 
upon five trees, till the setting of the sun, when their 
bodies were again thrown into the cave, and several 
large stones were collected on the spot, as a monument 
of their tragical end. 

The destruction of these confederates, together with 
that of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and 
Debir, and the late of Horam, king of Gezer, who had 
attempted to defend Lachish, induced Jabin, king of 

* II must ho observed, thai the Israelites were totally igno- 
1 1 onoitiy, and therefore the inspired historian adapted 
this relation to their ideas. And it may he further remarked, 
that if such a circumstance occurred in England, the only mode 
ofexplainingitto the commonalty would be that which is 
adopted ; as hut few out of the multitude would have any 
conception of the earth being stopped in a rotation which they 
never perceived. 



TO THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. I I I 

Azov to make a bold attempt against Israel, with the 
assistance of all the Gariaanitish forces. Accordingly 
1 e sent to the kings of Madon, Shimron, and Achshaph ; 
to the prinfces on the north of the mountains ; to those 
in the southern plains near Cinneroth, and in the valley, 
and on the frontiers of Dor on the west ; to the Ca- 
naanius, peculiarly so called, on the east ; and to the 
Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites, all of 
whom confederated together against Israel, and com- 
posed an army which the inspired historian compares, 
in point of numbers, to the sand on the sea shore. But) 
whilst they were enc imped by the waters of Merom, 
they were suddenly attacked by Joshua, and thrown in- 
to such confusion, that they evacuated their tents with 
the utmost precipitation, and fled towards Zidon the 
Great, Miruphoth Maim, and the valley of Mizpeh, 
whither they were pursued and cut to pieces by the 
Israelites. Their horses also were disabled, their char- 
iots of war burnt, and Hazor itself, which had been 
reckoned the head of the kingdoms, was, soon after- 
ward, taken and burnt to the ground. The rest of the 
cities belonging to the confederate princes were per- 
mitted to stand, but their inhabitants were involved in a 
general destruction. 

After the Canaanites had been successively defeated 
and dispersed by the victorious tribes of Israel, Joshua 
led his valiant followers against a fierce and barbarous 
race, called Anakims, who inhabited the mountainous 
parts of the country, and who have been described, by 
Josephus, as men of a dreadful aspect and gigantic 
stature. The arms of Israel, however, were crowned 
with the usual success, and the sons of Anak were van- 
quished with such dreadful slaughter, that they were 



112 FROM THE EIRTE OF MOSES, &C 

entirely cut off from Hebron, Debir, Anab, and all the 
adjacent mountains, and none of them remained in the 
land except in the cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. 

Thus, after an obstinate conflict of near seven years, 
was Canaan reduced by the Israelites, according to the 
promise of the Almighty ; Joshua divided the new in* 
heritance, by lot, among the twelve tribes, in compli- 
ance with the injunctions of his pious predecessor y 
and, in the words of the inspired penman,, " the lawi 
S&stAd from war."" 



113 



CHx\PTER V 



From the Conquest of Canaan, by the Israelites, to the 
Commencement of their monarchical Government. 



X HE interval of peace which followed the distribu- 
tion of the recent conquests was employed by Joshua 
in appointing the cities of refuge, which he had been 
commanded to set apart for the priests and Levites, and 
for the protection of such persons as had accidentally, 
or without an evil design, embrued their hands in the 
blood of a fellow creature, He also caused the two 
tribes and a half, which had received an inheritance on 
the other side Jordan, but had kindly assisted their 
brethren in the reduction of Canaan v to be honourably 
dismissed by the chiefs of the congregation. 

These Israelites, previously to their crossing the riv- 
er, erected an altar of an extraordinary size, in token 
of their relationship to the other tribes, and, as a monu- 
ment of the wonders that God had wrought during their 
abode in Canaan. Their design, however, was so gross- 
ly mistaken by Joshua and his followers, that they held 
an assembly at Shiloh on the occasion, and, after some 
consideration, resolved to commence a sanguinary war 
against them for their imaginary crime of apostacy : 
but on the remonstrances of Phinehas and several other 
chiefs, whom the general sent to investigate the busi- 
ness, an answer was returned which obviated this inten- 
tion; and gave universal satisfaction. 
l 2 



114 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

Joshua appears to have governed the Israelites peace- 
ably for about seventeen years after this occurrence ; 
and at the expiration of that time he caused all the 
heads of the people to assemble at Shechem, in order 
to listen to his last injunctions, and to make a solemn 
renewal of their covenant with the God of their fathers. 
He briefly recapitulated the transactions of God with 
their nation ; reminded them of the fulfilment of those 
gracious promises which had been first made to Abra- 
ham, and frequently repeated to his descendants ; and 
earnestly exhorted them to evince the sincerity of their 
gratitude by the zeal and regularity of their worship : 
at the same time warning them of the direful consequen- 
ces which would assuredly overtake them for perverse- 
ttess or defection. He then made a solemn covenant 
with the congregation that they should put away all 
strange gods, and direct their adoration solely to the 
Lord ; and, having erected a stone monument near 
the sanctuary, he exclaimed " This stone shall be 
a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God." This 
ceremony being performed, and the vows of the He- 
brews carefully registered in the book of the law, Josh- 
ua retired from the concerns of the world, and died, 
soon after, in the hundred and tenth year of his age : 
his remains wereburied in the border of his own inherit- 
ance in Timnath Serah. 

The death of this able commander was soon followed 
by that of the high priest Eleazer, who ^as buried on 
a hill belonging to his son and successor Phinehas : and, 
about the same time, the body of Joseph, which had 
been brought out of Egypt by the Israelites, was inter- 
red, with due solemnity, in apiece of ground which the 
patriarch Jacob had purchased of the Shechemites for- 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHT. 115 

a hundred pieces of silver, and which was now given, 
by lot, to the tribe of Joseph. 

Notwithstanding the brilliant and repeated victories 
which had pint the children of Israel in possession of 
Canaan, it appears that, at the time of Joshua's death, 
the Philistine satrapies and several other parts of the 
country remained unconquered. It was therefore deem- 
ed expedient to inquire of the Lord respecting the 
choice of a tribe to begin the war ; and the Divine ora- 
cle immediately appointed Judah for that purpose. Ac- 
cordingly Caleb, the son of Juphunneh, put himself at 
the head of his tribe, and, with the assistance of that of 
Simeon, made an expedition against the Canaanites, 
whic : i proved so successful, that Adonibezek, king of 
Bezek, was taken prisoner and deprived of his thumbs 
and great toes as a suitable* punishment for a man of 
so cruel a disposition ; Jerusalem, then inhabited by 
the Jebusites, was pillaged and burnt, while the aston- 
ished garrison took shelter in the fortress of Zion ; the 
gigantic descendants of Anak were obliged to screen 
themselves from destruction in the strong cities of Kir- 
jath Sepher and Hebron ; and the important satrapies- 
of Ekron, Gaza, and Askelon, were soon reduced by 
an army which fought under the immediate protection 
of their God. Kirjath Sepher was^ also, soon annexed 
to the new acquisitions of Israel : for, Caleb having 
promised his daughter as a reward^ to the man who 
should take it, Othniel the son of Kenaz undertook the 
dangerous enterprise, and received the due reward of 
his exalted merit. 

* This monarch had, according toliis own confession, caus- 
ed the thumbs and great toes of seventy kings, prisoners of war, 
to be amputated ; and obliged them to receive their food,.like 
dogs, under his table. 



116 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

Whilst Caleb, Othniel, and their valiant adherents, 
were exerting themselves for the security and aggran- 
dizement of their nation, the other tribes neglected the 
express injunction of their legislator relative to the ex- 
tirpation of their enemies , and instead of cutting off 
the old inhabitants, as God had commanded, they con- 
tented themselves with laying them under tribute ; and 
after some time, were so imprudent as to intermarry 
with their families, and to provoke the vengeance of 
their Maker by various idolatrous practices, which in- 
volved them in many difficulties, and gave their fots 
an opportunity of regaining their liberty, and of taking 
an ample revenge for all their former losses. 
B. c. During this period of confusion and aposlacy, 
1412. Micah,* a wealthy man of the tribe of Ephraim, 
restored to his mother eleven hundred pieces of silver 
which he had seized ; and the woman was so trans- 
ported with joy at the recovery of her property, that 
she immediately determined to expend the greatest 
part of it in what she deemed a religious use, and one 
that might possibly prove an equivalent blessing to 
those curses which, in her anger, she had vented against 
the author of her loss. Accordingly she caused two 
idols to be made, which, together with an ephod and 
teraphim, were placed in a particular part of the house, 
thence called an ,4 house of gods." Micah's son was 
also consecrated as priest to the family : but after some 
time his office was transferred to an indigent young 
Levite. 

* This and the following circumstance, though postponed 
till the latter end of the book of Judges, certainly happened 
at the above mentioned period, as we are told that the people 
had then no king (or judge) but every man did that which 
was right in his own eyes. 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. I 17 

Meanwhile the Danites, finding themselves straiten- 
ed for want of room, resolved to seek a new habitation ; 
and accordingly sent out some spies, who, passing Mi- 
cah's house, consulted the Levite concerning their suc- 
cess, and were so much encouraged by his answer 
that they went immediately to Laish, a town of consid- 
erable importance, but at that time inhabited by a rich 
and supine people who lived in the most careless se- 
curity, without either magistrate, soldiery or other 
means of defence. Having taken a survey of this place, 
they hastened back to their employers with an accurate 
dp.scriptiqo of its wealth and defenceless situation ; upon 
which the Danites of Zorah and Eshtaol armed six 
hundred of their men, and marched immediately toward 
Laish : but on hearing that Micah had in his possession 
certain idols, and a priest of the tribe of Levi, they 
halted at Mount Ephraim, and, having forcibly taken 
the images, ephod, and teraphim from Micah's house, 
they obliged the young priest to attend them on their 
expedition. Micah followed them as hastily as pos- 
sible, and complained bitterly that they had robbed 
him of every thing that was valuable ; but the only 
answer he received was, that his outcries might proba- 
bly cost him his life, and therefore it would be advisable 
for him to return home peaceably. Micah, having no 
alternative, was forced to submit to his grievous loss ; 
and the predatory Danites proceeded to Laish, which 
they burnt to the ground, and raised a new city upon 
its site, which they called Dan, after the name of their 
progenitor. There, also, they set up the idols which 
they had taken from Mount Ephraim, and young Jona- 
than was retained as the priest of their new gods. 



IIS FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

B. c. About six years after this transaction, thein- 
1406. habitants of Gibeah. in the tribe of Benjamin, 
committed such a dreadful outrage against an itinerant 
Levite and his unfortunate concubine, that every one 
who heard the tale was struck with horror, and all the 
other Israelites determined to nflict an adequate chas- 
tisement upon the delinquents. Accordingly they sent 
deputies to demand the delivery of the Gibeathites ; but 
their message being treated with contempt, they vowed 
to take a severer revenge on the whole tribe of Ben- 
jamin ; and Judah, after being twice repulsed, obtained 
a decisive victory over their apostate brethren,- of 
whom twenty five thousand were put to the sword, and 
six hundred were compelled to take shelter among the 
lofty rocks of Rimmon. 

The resentment of the conquerors was not appeased 
by this effusion of blood : but they burnt down all the 
neighbouring cities and villages, and massacred the in- 
habitants without pity or distinction, till, at length, they 
imagined that they had utterly extirpated one of their 
tribes ; and that supposition overwhelmed them with re- 
morse and consternation. On hearing however, that six 
hundred individuals had escaped the slaughter, they 
conceived an ardent wish for their restoration, and, after 
somt c nsicieration, adopted the following expedient. 
They caused a strict inquiry to be made concerning the 
tribes that had assembled at Mizpeh ; and on finding 
that the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, belonging to the 
half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan, had 
not attended the general summons, they sent a detach- 
ment of twelve thousand men to destroy all whom they 
should find in that city except the virgins, of whom four 
hundred were taken captive, and given to as many of 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 119 

the Benjamites. But as, notwitlistanding the execution 
of this project, two hundred men were still unprovided 
with wives, they were instructed to lay in ambush among 
the vineyards of Shiloh, where several young damsels 
were expected to dance, at the celebration of a festival, 
and to carry off such as excited their admiration. By 
these means the tribe of Benjamin was soon restored 
to its former strength, and, ever afterward, continued 
closely attached to that of Judah. 

B. C. The first chastisement which the Israelites 
1405. received for their apostacy and licentiousness, 
appears to have been inflicted by Cuchan Rishathaim, 
king of Mesopotamia, who kept them under subjection 
for the space of eight years : but, at the expiration of 
that time, the valiant Othnief overthrew the idolatrous 
oppressor, and obtained such important advantages on 
behalf of his own nation as produced a peace of forty 
years duration. 
B. c. Soon after the demise of this Hebrew judge 
1325. and warrior, Israel was again brought into thral- 
dom by the descendants of Moab, and groaned beneath 
: their yoke for about eighteen years. However, Ehud, 
their second judge, being sent with a present to the 
Moabitish king, seized the opportunity of assassinating 
the tyrant, and of giving freedom to his unhappy 
brethren. 
B. C. Shamgar, the third Israelitish judge, appears 
1304. t0 nave delivered his people from some oppres- 
sion which they suffered under the Philistines : but the 
inspired historian has given us no further account of 
him than that he slew six hundred of his enemies with 
an ox goad. 



i 



120 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAfvf 

Upon the decease of this personage, the Israelites 
proved so forgetful of their Maker, and so unmindful of 
his holy- commands, that their defection was punished 
with exemplary rigor by a cruel servitude, which they 
were brought into by Jabin, king of Canaan, whose 
strength, besides a powerful army, and a valiant gen- 
eral, consisted in a prodigious number of iron char- 
iots. At length, however, the groaning objects of his 
tyranny were brought to repentance ; and their sup- 
plications for the Divine assistance were crowned with 
such success, that two women were immediately raised 
up as the chief instruments of their deliverance, 
and a glorious victory was gained, which procured 
another respite of forty years continuance : for the 
Israelites, beingj encouraged by their prophetess, Deb- 
orah, assembled, in arms, to the number of ten thou- 
sand men ; and Sisera, the Canaanitish general, was pur- 
sued with great slaughter to the gates of Harosheth of 
the Gentiles, where he quitted his chariot, and, flee- 
ing on foot took refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite. 
Jael, Heber's wife, received him with apparent cordi- 
ality ; presented him with a bowl of milk, instead of 
water which he had requested ; and covered him with 
a mantle, as if to secure him from the observation of 
intruders : but, on perceiving him to be suddenly over- 
come with sleep, she took a hammer, and drove a large 
nail into his temples ; thus terminating his life, and the 
glory of his master. 

Notwithstanding these signal and repeated deliver- 
ances, the Israelites still proved ungrateful, and, by their 
aptitude to idolatry, provoked their God to afflict them 
with fresh calamities. Accordingly they were brought 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCH?. 121 

under subjection by an enemy who deprived them of 
the privilege of retaining their own judges ; ravaged 
their land with unremitting cruelty ; expelled them 
from their habitations ; and even obliged them to flee, 
for personal safety, to the clefts and caverns of the 
mountains. 

Whilst the affairs of Israel were in this deplorable sit- 
uation, the Supreme Being vouchsafed to listen to their 
complaints, and graciously determined to effect their de- 
liverance. Accordingly, an angel was sent to Gideon, to 
salute him with the title of Saviour of his people, and to 
assure him that the sons of Jacob should soon be eman- 
cipated from their distress by hisinstrumentality, Gideon 
was too well acquainted with the extreme wretched- 
ness of his nation, to suppose that such an important 
revolution could be effected by any human being ; and 
therefore seemed to doubt the veracity of the angel's 
assertions. However, on his preparing a sacrifice, the 
celestial messenger caused it to be instantly consumed by 
supernatural fire, and vanished from the sight of the 
astonished Hebrew, who immediately erected an altar on 
the spot, which he called Jehovah Shalom. The same 
night he commenced his pious task with the demolition 
of the grove and altar of Baal, and with the sacrifice of a 
bullock in the place where the Israelites had, for a con- 
siderable time, worshipped the idol of their enslavers. 
These transactions gave such umbrage to the citizens 
that they assembled next morning at the house of Joash, 
Gideon's father, and demanded that the offender should 
expiate his crime by death : but the old .man frustrated 
their design, and made them sensible of their absurdity 
in professing such zeal for a deity who was too impotent 
to prevent the destruction of his own altar. 






122 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

Shortly after this occurrence, Gideon received a 
fresh * assurance that he should, with the assistance of 
a handful of men, gain a decisive victory over the for- 
midable armies of the enemy ; and, to convince the Is- 
raelites of their folly and ingratitude in ever trusting to 
an arm of flesh, God commanded that all who were 
faint hearted should be disbanded ; and that the re- 
mainder should be conducted to the water side, where 
those who kneeled down to drink should be rejected, 
and those who lapped the water out of their hands 
should be reserved for the intended expedition. Ac 
cordingly this trial was made, and three hundred men 
who alone remained out of thirty two thousand, wen 
encouraged with an assurance of victory. 

At this juncture, while Zebah, Zalmunna, and their 
powerful confederates, lay in their encampment in the 
valley of Jezreel, Gideon explored their camp ; and, on 
overhearing a Midianitish soldier relate a dream which 
clearly prefigured the success of Israel, he resolved to 
execute a stratagem which he had formed for the de- 
struction of his enemy. Accordingly, having given a 
ram's horn and a light concealed in a pitcher to each of 
his three hundred followers, he led them about midnight 
against the Midianites ; who, being suddenly awakened 
by the sound of the horns, and dazzled by the nundred 
lights that broke in upon them from three sides of their 

* Gideon, being 1 doubtful of success, notwithstanding the 
assurances of the Almighty, earnestly requested that a miracle 
might be wrought for the confirmation of his faith. Accord- 
ingly a fleece of wool which he had spread on the ground was 
covered with dew, whilst the earth around it was perfectly 
dry ; and, on the next night, the fleece was perfectly dry, 
while the ground alone was wet with dew. 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 123 

camp, were thrown into the utmost consternation, and 
began to attack each other, instead of their opponents. 
Zeba and Zalmunna found means to escape, for the 
present, with a party of fifteen thousand men, while 
Oreb and Zeb, two other Midianitish princes, were put 
to death by the Ephraimites ; and a hundred and 
twenty thousand men were destroyed by the Hebrew 
victors : but they were, at length, overtaken by Gideon, 
and sacrificed to the manes of some of his brethren 
whom they had murdered at Mount Tabor. The citi- 
zens of Succoth and Peniel were, also, treated with ex- 
emplary rigor for having refused to supply the Israel- 
ites with provision whilst they were engaged in the 
pursuit of their idolatrous foes. 

After this victory, which so effectually weakened the 
Midianites that they could never afterward make head 
against the sacred people, Gideon retired to his own in- 
heritance, and executed the office of a judge fcr forty 
years, at the expiration of which time he died in a ven- 
erable age, and was gathered to his ancestors. His- 
torical justice, however, obliges us to observe, that he 
sullied the glory of his great achievements, by collecting 
all the golden earrings, that had been taken from the 
enemy, and causing an ephod, or idol, to be made and 
set up in his own city, which, we are told, proved a 
snare both to him and to his house, because it became 
the occasion of a new kind of idolatry. 

B. C. Upon the decease of Gideon an event took 
1236, place which clearly demonstrated that the un- 
stable Israelites had already thrown off their allegiance 
to God, and their gratitude to their deliverer : for, at 
the instigation of Abimelech,the seventy legitimate sons 



12& FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAtf 

of Gideon were assassinated, and the impious wretch 
who had caused their death, was proclaimed king, in 
the plain of Shechem. Jotham, the youngest son of 
the deceased warrior, fortunately escaped the fate of his 
brethren, and embraced this opportunity of addressing 
the tumultuous assembly from the summit of MountGe- 
rizzim : " The trees," said he, "once assembled to make 
choice of a king : they offered the supreme dignity to 
the olive tree, but received for answer that it could by 
no means divest itself of those qualities which were so 
acceptable to God and man, to reign over them ; the 
fig tree, being applied to, refused them on account of its 
sweetness ; and the vine preferred its juice to the prof- 
fered honor. At length the bramble, being invited to ac- 
cept the dominion over them, replied that, if their de- 
signs were congenial with their professions, they should 
come and take shelter under its shadow, or otherwise 
that fire should come out of the bramble and destroy 
the cedars of Lebanon. Now therefore," continued Jo- 
tham, " if ye have acted with either justice or gratitude 
in murdering the sons of your late benefactor, and in be- 
stowing the regal dignity upon Abimelech, then rejoice 
ye in your new king, and may he rejoice in you : but 
if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour 
the men of Shechem and the house of Millo ; and let 
lire come out from them and consume Abimelech." 

Jotham had no sooner uttered this bold expostulation 
than he fled to the city of Beer, in the vicinage of Je- 
rusalem, where he continued during the remainder of 
Abimelech's reign, which, according to his prediction, 
proved both vexatious and of short duration ; for be- 
sides his mortification at finding that none of the tribes 
would acknowledge his sovereignty, a spirit of dissen- 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 125 

sion is expressly said to have been raised between him 
and the Shechemites, which propelled the latter to ex- 
piate their folly by his death : but God permitted him 
to escape for the present, that he might inflict a more 
severe chastisement upon him. 

Gaal, the son of Ebed, being informed of the discon- 
tent of the Shechemites, resolved to blow the flame in- 
to an open rupture, and even designed to fortify the city 
against the object of their aversion : but Zebul the 
governor of the town, gave Abimelech full intelligence 
of these proceedings ; and Gaal andhis followers were 
defeated with dreadful slaughter : the inhabitants of 
Shechem were also cruelly massacred ; the city was 
rased to the ground, and strewed with salt ; and the 
chief conspirators, who had retired to the temple of Baal 
Berith, were reduced to ashes with that idolatrous fane. 
Thus was Jotham's wish awfully accomplished, " Let 
fire come out from the bramble, and devour the cedars 
of Lebanon." 

Flushed with his success against these revolters, A- 
bimelech marched against the inhabitants of Thebez, a 
city of Judah ; and compelled them to retire into 3 
tower, which he resolved to burn, like that of Baal 
Berith : but on his advancing to the entrance of the 
fortress, a certain female threw down part of a mill- 
stone, which fractured his skull, and reduced him to the 
pecessity of requesting his servant to dispatch hirn, les^ 
it should be reported that he had fallen by the hands of 
a woman. 

After the demise of this impious fratricide, the He- 
brews returned to their idolatrous practices, and even 
multiplied the number of their false gods ; a defection 
which enabled the Ammonites and Philistines to subdue 
m 2 



126 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

and keep them in subjection for the space of eighteen 
years. The calamities which they endured under these- 
oppressors caused them to repent of their ingratitude 
and to cry for deliverance to the God of their fathers : 
but they were told to apply for succour to the deities, 
whose worship they had so often and so eagerly em- 
braced. At length, however, the Almighty vouchsafed 
to interpose on their behalf, and Jephthah, the son of 
Gilead, was apppointed judge and general of all the 
Israelitish forces. This valiant character levied troops 
and made all other arrangements with the utmost dis- 
patch ; but, previously to his taking the field, he mad$ 
a rash vow that he would, if victorious, sacrifice the first 
living creature that should come out of his house to meet 
him on his return. This inconsiderate affirmation tar- 
nished the glories, and embittered the enjoyment of his 
exertions ; for though the Ammonites were utterly 
defeated, and Israel acquired an immense booty, the 
only daughter of the conqueror proved the victim of 
his imprudence ; for, hearing of her father's triumph- 
ant return, she went out at the head of a company of 
virgins to meet him with timbrels, dances, and other 
testimonies of rejoicing. At this affecting sight, Jeph- 
thah rent his clothes in the agony of grief, and acquaint- 
ed his beloved child with her sad destiny : but she be- 
haved with greater fortitude, and expressed the utmost 
readiness to die, on condition that she might, for the 
space of two months, retire with her companions to the 
mountains, and there bewail her melancholy fate. 

This dear bought victory was attended with other 
inconveniences to Jephthah ; for he had scarcely re* 
turned to his own house, before the Ephraimites assem- 
bled, in a tumultuous manner, and threatened ftiriar tvith 



_ 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY, 127 

the heaviest effects of their displeasure, because he had 
presumed to engage the enemy without requesting their 
assistance. Hereupon the general reproached them so 
severely with baseness and pusillanimity, that they pro- 
ceeded to hostilities, and a fight ensued in which the 
Ephraimites were defeated with the loss of forty two 
thousand men. No farther mention is made of Jeph- 
thah, except that he judged Israel six years, and that he 
was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 

Elon, of the tribe of Zebulun, is said to have borne 
the oSce of a judge, among the Israelites, for the spac& 
often years, and to have been buried at Ajalon : but 
none of his actions have been transmitted to posterity. 

Ibzan, the successor of Jephthah, was a native of 
Bethlehem. He had thirty sons, and as many daugh- 
ters, whom he lived to see married : and governed Is- 
rael seven years. 

Abdon, an Ephraimite, and a native of Pirathon, ap- 
pears to have enjoyed the magistracy for about eight 
years : but he is merely noticed, in scripture, on ac- 
count of his numerous progeny, having left, at his de- 
cease, forty sons, and thirty grand sons, who rode upon 
as many asses' colts according to the custom of the op- 
ulent Israelites. 

Eli, who united in his own person the dignities of 
judge and high priest, is particularly remarked for his 
remissness and indolence, especially toward his own 
sons, whom he suffered to practise every species of 
licentiousness and debauchery, without reproof or cor- 
rection. However, he seems to have been chosen by 
the Almighty, as the most proper judge for a people 
who had again involved themselves in thraldom by their 



12S FROM THS CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

apostacy, and who were too apt to trust for deliverance 
to an arm of flesh. 

After the rebellious tribes had groaned for a consider- 
able time under their oppressors and the severity of their 
chastisement had led many of them to repentance, the 
Supreme Being raised them up a deliverer in the person 
of Samson, whose birth and extraordinary prowess had 
been predicted, to his parents, by an angel, and who 
soon began to exhibit marks of superior bravery in the 
camp of the Danites, between Zorah and Eshtaol. 

This valiant youth having become enamoured of one 
of the virgins of Timnath, invited thirty Philistines to 
the celebration of his marriage and proposed a riddle for 
their solution within the seven days of the festival, 
promising to give thirty sheets and thirty changes of ap- 
parel to each man on their giving the required answer, 
and reminding them that he should expect a similar 
present if the enigma defeated their ingenuity. For 
three days the guests puzzled themselves with the solu- 
tion ; but, finding all their attempts fruitless they threat- 
ened to inflict the most dreadful severity upon the bride, 
their country woman, and her father's house, unless she 
devised some method to extricate them from their per- 
plexity. Hereupon she requested her husband to ex- 
plain his riddle to her in confidence, and wearied him 
so effectually with her unremittingimportunitiesthat he, 
at length, informed her of his having slain a young lion 
in the vineyards of Timnath, and of having seen, on 
another occasion, the carcass of the animal filled with 
bees and honey, which gave him the idea of proposing, 
as an enigmatical question, " Out of the eater came 
forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." 
This important intelligence was immediately communi- 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 129 

cated to the guests ; and they, toward the close of the 
seventh day, gave in their answer. But Samson was 
perfectly aware of the treachery that had been practis- 
ed : and, though he resolved to fulfil his promise, thir- 
ty of the inhabitants of Askelon were sacrificed to his 
resentment ; for he went thither and slew thirty men 
and gave their spoil to the persons who had expounded 
his riddle, 
B. C. This marriage was productive of much ca- 
1136. lamity to the Philistines : for Samson's father 
in law, having given his wife to another man on pre- 
tence that she was not beloved by him, the Israelite 
caught three hundred foxes, and sent them, with fire- 
brands at their tails, into the corn fields, so that al) the 
standing harvest and other fruits of the earth were ut- 
terly consumed. Confounded at so great and unex- 
pected a disaster, the Philistines eagerly inquired after 
the cause, and on hearing of the treatment which Sam- 
son had received, they took an ample revenge on his 
late wife and father in law by reducing them and their 
habitation to ashes. However, Samson's anger was not 
yet appeased ; for he fell unexpectedly upon a party of 
his oppressors, and defeated them with great slaughter. 
This transaction roused the indignation of the Philis- 
tines, who, accordingly, pursued the object of their 
malice to the rock Etam and acquainted the men of Ju- 
dah with their determination to chastise his insolence. 
Accordingly three thousand Israelites went up to the 
top of the rock, and, after remonstrating on the absur- 
dity of opposing their masters, brought Samson, bound, 
toward his enemies. At this sight the Philistines rais- 
ed a general shout ; but their triumph was of short du- 
ration, for Saroson suddenly burst his bonds asunder* 



130 FROM THE CONQUEST ©F CANAAJT 

and, rushing upon them with no other weapon than the 
jawbone of an ass, laid a thousand men dead at his feet. 
The instrument of their destruction was, also, render- 
ed highly beneficial to the conqueror, for on his ex- 
pressing a fear that he might perish with thirst, God 
vouchsafed to cleave a hollow place in the jawbone, 
whence issued out an amply supply of water. 

After an interval of twenty years, the Philistines 
thought their enemy was within their power, and, ac- 
cordingly, secured the gates of Gaza, with an intention 
to put him to death next morning. This precaution, 
however, was frustrated ; for Samson, quitting his lodg- 
ing at midnight, pulled up the city gates, with their 
posts and bars, and carried them up to the top of a hill 
in the vicinage of Hebron. 

Subsequent to this transaction, Samson became en- 
amoured of a Philistine harlot, called Delilah, who liv- 
ed in the valley of Sorek, and who soon occasioned his 
destruction. The five lords of the Philistines, being 
apprized of this circumstance, offered Delilah a con- 
siderable sum to discover the secret of her lover's un- 
common prowess, and to find by what method he might 
be reduced to the ordinary strength of other men. This 
proposal was cheerfully embraced, and all the arts of 
deceit and insinuation were practised by this unprinci- 
pled woman, to obtain the promised recompence ; but 
Samson eluded the impending mischief, for some time, 
by assigning fictitious reasons for his strength. At 
length, however, being wearied with her importunities, 
he imprudently confessed that it lay entirely in his 
hair, and that he had been a Nazarite to God, from the 
time .of his birth. Delilah perceiving that she had 
now obtained the invaluable secret, caused him to bz 



T& THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 131 

shaven, whilst he was asleep, and delivered hrm into 
the hands of his enemies, who barbarously put out his 
eyes, loaded him with fetters of brass, and compelled 
him to grind in the prison at Gaza. 

Elated with their triumph over so formidable an en- 
emy, the Philistines resolved to celebrate a festival to 
their god Dagon ; and, accordingly assembled in an 
edifice of such extent, that three thousand persons 
could conveniently sit upon the roof. In the height of 
their rejoicing and mutual congratulations, they sent 
for tiieir blind adversary, to make sport with him ; but 
their festivity proved of short duration, for Samson, 
having requested permission to lean upon the two pillars 
■which supported the roof, and having earnestly be- 
sought the Almighty to strengthen him once more, 
overturned the idolatrous fane, and buried the whole 
assembly in its ruins. 

Meanwhile, Samuel, who had been dedicated to the 
service of God from his infancy, and who, at this time, 
was employed in opening and shutting the doors of the 
tabernacle, w r as roused from sleep by the voice of his 
Maker, and acquainted with the awful retribution which 
should speedily overtake the indolence of Eh\ and the 
licentiousness of his sons. " Behold," said the Lord, 
" I will do a thing in Israel, at which the ears of every 
one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will per- 
form against Eli all things which I have spoken con- 
cerning his house : when I begin I will also make an 
end : for I have told him that I will judge his house 
for ever, for the iniquity which he knoweth ; because 
his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them 
not." Samuel was fearful of repeating these awful 
predictions to the high priest, but, being solemnly ad- 



132 FROM THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN 

jured to hide nothing, he disclosed the whole purport 
of the vision. After this occurrence, Samuel received 
many testimonies of Divine favour, and displayed such 
superior wisdom and piety that all the Israelites rever- 
enced him as a prophet of the Lord. 

The fatal catastrophe of Samson's oppressors inspir- 
ed Israel with a hope of effecting their emancipation 
from Philistine tyranny, and induced them to give bat- 
tle .to their haughty masters, in the vicinage of Ebene- 
zer ; but God refused to espouse their -cause, and per- 
mitted them to be ignominiously repulsed with the loss 
of four thousand men. Hereupon they resolved to 
bring the ark of the covenant into their camp, under 
the idea of striking a panic into the enemy, and of giv- 
ing. fresh animation to their own troops. This absurd 
project, however, was attended with the most fatal con- 
sequences ; for Eli's two sons, with a prodigious num- 
ber of Hebrews, were put to the sword ; and the ark 
itself fell into the hands of the Philistines. At the news 
of these calamities. Eli, who had impatiently waited the 
result of the battle, fell backward from his seat and 
broke his neck ; and the wife of his son Phinehas, ex- 
pired on the same occasion, after giving birtbto a child 
whom she named Ichabod, to signify that the glory of 
Israel was departed. 

The Philistines carried their invaluable prize to Ash- 
dod, and placed it in the temple of Dagon ; but on their 
entering the fane, next morning, they had the mortifi- 
cation to see their idol lying upon his face before the 
ark. This circumstance, however, was attributed to 
mere accident, and the image was replaced in its orig» 
4nal position ; but, next day, it was found in the same 
humble posture, with the additional vexation of its 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 133 

head, feet and bands being broken off, and lying upon 
the threshhold. This occurrence, together with a dan- 
gerous distemper which raged in Ashdod, induced the 
inhabitants to send away the ark, and it was according- 
ly removed to Gath ; but as the same affliction follow^ 
ed it both thither and to Ekron, it was at length dis- 
missed, by the counsel of the Philistine priests, with 
suitable trespass offerings. 

The unexpected return of this sacred symbol, occa 
sioned much rejoicing among the inhabitants of Beth*- 
shemesh, and a sacrifice was cheerfully offered in the 
field where it stopped : but, some of the people having 
presumed to examine the interior of it, the festival was 
suddenly changed into a scene of woe, and upwards of 
fifty thousand persons Were struck dead by their of- 
fended Maker. The survivors were so extremely ter- 
rified at this unexpected judgment that they immedi- 
ately caused the ark to be removed to Kirjathjearim, 
where Eleazar, the son of Abinadab, was solemnly con- 
secrated to become its keeper. 
B C Samuel, who by this time discharged the two 
1096. important duties of judge and prophet, em- 
braced this opportunity of exhorting the Israelites to put 
away their slrange gods, to devote their hearts entirely 
to the worship of their Creator, and to implore that de- 
liverance from the Philistine rulers, which their idol- 
atrous practices had hitherto prevented. Accordingly 
the people promised to fulfil his injunctions, and a sol- 
emn assembly was held at Mizpeh, for the laudable 
purposes of fasting and prayer. 

This meeting gave great umbrage to the Philistines, 
who immediately resolved to commence hostilities 
-against their unhappy tributaries, and, with this design, 



134 FROM THE CONQUEST F CANAAN 

began their march toward Mizpeh : but, Samuel having 
offered a sucking lamb for a burnt offering, and having 
earnestly implored the Divine assistance, they were 
confounded and dispersed by a tremendous thunder 
storm, and chased with prodigious slaughter to the 
vicinage of Beth Car. This defeat gave so mortal a 
blow to the strength of the Philistines that they were 
rendered incapable of giving any molestation to Israel 
during the remaining years of Samuel's government. 

During this interim of public tranquillity, Samuel 
made it his regular practice to take an annual circuit 
round Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpeh, to administer jus- 
tice ; and then returned to Ramah, the place of his na- 
tivity, where he had erected an altar to the God of his 
fathers, and whither the Hebrews resorted to him at all 
other tirnqs. 

Notwithstanding the beneficial effects that resulted 
from his prudent government, Samuel had the mortifi- 
cation to find that his two sons, whom he had entrusted 
with the magistracy at Beersheba, had rendered them- 
selves despicable by their venality, and thereby induced 
the Israelites to prefer a request for a king, who might 
govern them like the neighbouring nations. Samuel was 
greatly surprised at a petition which not only evinced the 
unstable disposition of thepeople,but also savoured of the 
blackest ingratitude to that Adorable Being, who had 
hitherto guided, protected, and delivered them upon 
every emergency, and who had himself appointed that 
form of government which they were now solicitous to 
overturn.* He therefore expostulated warmly on the 

* We must not suppose from this narration that a monarchical 
government was displeasing- to the Almighty : but the crime of 
the Israelites was that of ingratitude to their God whom they 
now rejected from being king over them. However, when 



TO THE JEWISH MONARCHY. 135 

impolicy and evil tendency of their proposal, and fore- 
warned them of all the grievances which they and their 
families would in all probability, suffer under, a mo- 
narchical government. But, as all his eloquence was 
exhausted in vain, and God commanded him to gratify 
their desire, he dismissed them for the present, and soon 
afterward, presented Saul, the son ofKish,to the people 
as the person whom the Lord had chosen for their ruler. 
The nomination of this man, who was possessed of an 
uncommon share of comeliness, and whose stature ex- 
ceeded that of any of the Hebrews, by the head and 
shoulders, was received with great satisfaction by the 
majority of Israel, and the air rang with repeated ac- 
clamations of " God save the king," though a party of 
profligate persons pretended to despise him on account 
of his youth, and refused to acknowledge him for their 
lawful sovereign. Samuel, who had already told the 
people what a king might do in the plenitude of his 
power, now instructed the new monarch in all the duties 
of his high station, and dismissed the assembly with a* 
appropriate exhortation. 

their petition was answered, the Lord himself appointed the 
man wlio should sway the sceptre; and, from this period to 
the end ofthe Scripture History, crowned heads are spoken of 
with the greatest respect, both by the Deity, his prophets, and 
apostles. Instead, therefore, of supposing that the regal au- 
thority is displeasing to the Almighty, let us pray for assistance 
to obey the sacred injunction " Fear God and honor the king" 



1S6 



CHAPTER VI. 



JProm the Commencement of the monarchical Government 
among the Israelites , to the revolt of Ten Tribes under 

Jeroboam. 

B C. T 

1093. XT was not long before Saul had an oppor- 
tunity of exhibiting his courage, and proving himself 
worthy of the supreme dignity ; for, the inhabitants of 
Jabesh Gilead having sent to inform hirn, that they were 
closely besieged and.threatened with the severest cruel.* 
ties by Nahash, king of the Ammonites, he caused a 
yoke of oxen to be hewed in pieces, and distributed 
among all the tribes, with a declaration that whosoever 
refused to march to the relief of Jabesh, should see his 
cattle destroyed in the same manner. This assertion 
was attended with the desired consequences, and the 
people flocked in such numbers to the standard of their 
prince, that he soon compelled the tyrannical Ammonite 
to raise the siege, and to provide for his own safety by 
flight. This brilliant exploit inspired the Israelites with 
such zeal for their sovereign, that they eagerly proposed 
the death of all who had refused to submit to his 
authority. This design, however, was overruled by 
Saul, who generously observed that it would be both 
criminal and inconsistent to blot the commencement of 
his rfcign with a massacre, after the Deity had vouchsaf- 
ed to crown his arms with conquest. 

Samuel, having proposed to renew the kingdom after 
this glorious achievement, caused the victor to be in- 



FROM THE COMMENCEMENT, &C. 1 37 

stalled with great solemnity, at Gilgal ; and embraced 
this opportunity of justifying his late administration ; 
because his authority, which now devolved upon Saul, 
could no longer prevent them from exhibiting any com- 
plaint against him. He also recapitulated all the won- 
ders which God had wrought among the people, and 
convinced them of their ingratitude in demanding a 
king, by praying that the Lord would send a storm of 
thunder and rain, which immediately took place, though 
it was then the time of harvest, when the air was free 
from clouds and perfectly serene. He assured them, 
however, that he would continue his good offices toward 
them, during the remainder of his life ; and faithfully 
predicted the good or evil consequences that would 
result to themselves and their king, according to their 
compliance with, or their disobedience to the commands 
of their Creator. 

In the second year oFthis reign the Philistines en- 
camped in the vicinage of Michmash with thirty thou- 
sand charioteers, six thousand horsemen, and a prodig- 
ious multitude of foot soldiers, with a design to avenge 
the garrison of Geba, which had been recently cut off 
by Jonathan, the heroic son of Saul. At the sight of 
this formidable army, the Hebrews were overwhelmed 
with such consternation, that, instead of attempting to 
improve their late victory, or to evince their zeal for 
their valiant leader, they fled, in great numbers, to the 
caves and excavations of the rocks for shelter, while 
others retreated precipitately to Gilead, beyond the 
Jordan, and basely left the Land of Promise open to 
the incursions of their enemy. To add to the general 
consternation, the Philistines had craftily deprived them 

of all kinds of weapons ; so that when Saul came to 
tf 2 



138 FROM THE -COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 



assemble his little army, who are said to have followed 
him trembling, there was neither sword nor spear in the ••> 
hands of any man, except the king and his son Jona- 
than. 

Anxious to learn the result of the approaching hos- 
tilities, Saul remained at Gilgal in expectation of re- 
ceiving some satisfactory information from Samuel; but, 
as the prophet did not arrive within seven days, he ven- 
tured to offer a sacrifice, in order to procure the divine 
protection. The victim, however, was scarcely con- 
sumed before Samuel appeared, and condemned him, in 
the severest terms, for his impatience : Saul urged the 
distressing state of his affairs as an excuse, but the 
prophet told him he had committed a very foolish ac- 
tion, and that God would assuredly punish his disobedi- 
ence by transferring the kingdom to a more deserving 
person. As soon as Samuel had uttered this prediction, 
he went to Gibeah of Benjamin, whither Saul and his 
son, also, marched at the head of six hundred unarmed 
men, who beheld the enemy making a threefold incur- 
sion into their country, and committing great depreda- 
tions by separate detachments. 

Whilst the pusillanimous Israelites were mourning 
over the fertile territories which they had neither cour- 
age nor inclination to defend, Jonathan, accompanied 
by his armour bearer, fell unexpectedly upon one of 
the enemy's outposts, and attacked them with such 
intrepidity, that they were instantly thrown into confu- 
sion, and those who escaped his sword fled toward their 
camp, where they occasioned a general consternation. 
Saul, perceiving the tumult, and finding that Jonathan 
was missing, rightly conjectured what had happened, 
and fell on the fleeing enemy with his little army, which 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 139 

was rapidly increased by a number of Hebrew captives, 
who seized the opportunity of effecting their escape, 
and by many of those who had fled to the mountains for 
safety, but now came out to share the honors of a battle 
which God had evidently given into the hands of his 
people. This victory would have been more complete 
had not th« king unadvisedly adjured his followers to 
take no refreshment in their pursuit, saying, " Cursed 
be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I 
may be avenged on mine enemies." Jonathan being 
ignorant of this imprecation, and quite weary with the 
day's toil, refreshed himself with a little honey which 
he found in passing through a wood ; and his trans- 
gression was afterward discovered by the urim, upon 
which his father declared he should be put to death. 
This sentence, however, was unanimously opposed by 
all the army, who swore that not a hair of his head 
should be injured, in consideration of the great deliver- 
ance which had resulted from his extraordinary valour, 
under the blessing of his God. 

After this victory, Saul made such prudent arrange- 
ments, and received such important acquisitions of 
strength, that he not only continued to triumph over the 
Philistines, but also fought, with great success, against 
the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and other idola- 
trous nations. He also led a numerous army against 
the Amalekites, and, in obedience to the Divine injunc- 
tion, ravaged their country without mercy. However, 
the king, Agag, and the best of the cattle, were spaied 
by the conqueror, who upon this account was severely 
reprimanded by Samuel, and assured that God would 
now rend the kingdom from him, and give it to a per- 
son who should prove more tractable and obedient. 



140 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY- 



This heavy sentence had such an effect upon the king*, 
that he confessed his fault, and only requested that, for 
decency sake, the prophet would accompany him whilst 
he paid his adorations to the Almighty. Samuel com- 
plied with this request, and caused the royal Amalekite 
to be brought before him, in order to recompence his 
cruelties upon his own head. Accordingly, having up- 
braided him with his former tyranny and thirst of 
slaughter, he hewed him in pieces before the Lord at 
Gilgal : he then returned to the place of his residence, 
where he continued mourning; for Saul, till he was re- 
proved by his Maker, and commanded to go to the 
house of Jesse, in Bethlehem, in order to anoint a new 
king over Israel instead of Saulj who had incurred the 
sentence of positive rejection. 
B. C. Pursuant to this command, Samuel took a 
1063. young heifer with him under pretence of offer- 
ing a sacrifice, and w r ent to the house of Jesse, where 
he caused all the sons of the favoured Hebrew to pass 
before him. When he beheld the eldest he exclaimed, 
" Surely the Lord's anointed is before him ;" but God 
rejected him, as he did also several others in their turns. 
Samuel then demanded whether these were all the 
sons ; and, on hearing that there was a stripling who 
tended his father's sheep, he caused him to be immedi- 
ately brought into the house, and anointed him in the 
midst of his brethren. 

Shortly afterthis interesting occurrence,Saul began to 
be tormented with an evil spirit, or, as some have im- 
agined, with a deep melancholy, to dispel which he was 
advised to have recourse to the fascinating charms of 
music. This counsel was readily accepted, and the 
youngest son of Jesse, being celebrated for his perform- 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES'. 141 

ance on the harp, was immediately engaged as the min- 
strel. Accordingly when the king began to exhibit 
any signs of indisposition, he exerted himself to rouse 
his attention, and swept the tuneful strings with such 
pathos, skill, and sweetness, that the malady was soon 
removed, and David had leisure to return to the care 
of his flocks. 

On a fresh declaration of war between Israel and the 

Philistines, the former took the field, under the conduct 
of their prince, and formed an encampment by the 
valley of Elah, while the latter pitched their tents at 
Ephes Dammim, between Shocoh and Azekah. 

Whilst the two armies lay thus encamped, on either 
side the valley, a Philistine warrior, whose height was 
upwards of twelve feet eight inches, whose coat of mail 
weighed one hundred and eighty nine pounds Troy, and 
whose spear head weighed two and twenty of the same 
pounds, advanced in brazen armour, and with threat- 
ening gestures, to challenge any individual of the Israel- 
itish host to decide, by single combat, which of the 
nations should rule, and which obey : but the Hebrews 
were so effectually terrified at his menaces and gigantic 
stature, that he repeated^ in vain every morning and 
evening for forty days. At length young David, (being 
sent to the camp to inquire after his brethren, and hear- 
ing that Saul had promised his daughter as a reward to 
the man who should slay this opponent) resolved to per- 
form the exploit, which no other individual of his na- 
tion had the courage to attempt. His brethren were 
highly incensed at his remarks on the occasion, and even. 
treated him with unpardonable roughness ; but he per- 
sisted in his design, and presented himself before the 
king, with these remarkable words ; " Thy servant 



142 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, 
and took a lamb out of the flock ; and I went out after 
him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth ; 
and when he arose against me, I caught him by his 
beard and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion 
and the bear : and this uncircumcised Philistine shall 
be as one of them, because he hath defied the armies 
of the living God/' In consequence of this represen- 
tation, Saul consented that the young shepherd should 
make an attempt for the deliverance of Israel, and 
caused him to be equipped with a brazen helmet and a 
coat of mail. These, however, proved so cumbersome 
that David immediately laid them aside, and chose five 
smooth stones, out of a brook, with which he advanced 
toward the gigantic Goliath. 

The proud warrior, perceiving a ruddy youth ap- 
proaching toward him with no other weapons than a 
staff, a sling, and a shepherd's bag, was enflamed with 
fury, and exclaimed, u Am I a dog that thou comest 
against me with staves ?" Then, cursing him bv his 
gods, " Come hither," said he, " and I will give thy 
flesh to the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field." 
David was by no means alarmed at this threat, but 
boldly answered, " Thou comest to me with a sword, 
a spear, and a shield ; but I come to thee in the name of 
the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, 
whom thou hast defied. This day, therefore will the 
Lord deliver thee into my hand, and I will smite thee, 
and take thy head from thee ; and I will give the car- 
casses of the host of the Philistines unto the fowls of the 
air, and to the wild beasts of the field, that all the 
earth may know that there is a God in Israel : and all 
this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 143 

sword and spear ; for the battle is the Lord's, and he 
will give you into our hands." Goliath, enraged be- 
yond endurance at these assertions, stepped forward to 
punish the presumption of his opponent ; but before he 
could reach him, a stone from Davi.i's sling sank into 
his forehead, and felled him to the ground. The youth- 
ful victor immediately decapitated the prostrate giant 
with his own sword, and carried off the enormous head 
in triumph, while the Philistines quitted their camp in 
the utmost confusion, and the Israelites pursued them, 
with prodigious slaughter, to the very gates of Gath 
and Ekron. 

This brilliant achievement gave birth to the most ar- 
dent friendship between David and Jonathan, inso- 
much that the inspired historian tells us, " their souls 
were knit together," and David himself observes, on 
another occasion, that their love exceeded the love of 
women. But Saul's admiration was soon converted 
into jealou c y, by a company of females, who impru- 
dently extolled the young shepherd above him, in their 
triumphant songs, saying, that Saul had slain his thou- 
sands and David his ten thousands. From that time 
the king regarded David wth an envious eye, and con- 
trived various expedients to destroy him ; but all his 
cruel projects were defeated, and he had the mortifica- 
tion to fi«id that his new son in law continued to augment 
his splendid conquests, and to endear himself to the 
tribes of Israel. 

David, having narrowly escaped assassination, with- 
drew first to Ramah, and afterward to Naioth, to ac- 
quaint Samuel with his cruel persecution. He had not 
long been in this place, before his royal adversary sent 
messengers to apprehend him ; but, instead of execut- 



144 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

ing their commission, they were suddenly inspired with 
a spirit of prophecy, and joined themselves to Samuel 
and the other prophets. The king, hearing of this cir- 
cumstance, sent other officers, a second, and a third 
time, with similar success ; and at length determined to 
go himself. However, he had no sooner come within 
sight of Samuel, than he also began prophesying, and 
lay down, uncovered, all that day and night ; by which 
means David was enabled to withdraw, in order to hold 
a conference with his friend Jonathan. 

At this interview the two young heroes made the 
most solemn protestations of perpetual amity, and Jona- 
than promised either to appease his father's anger, or 
to give his friend timely intimation of any serious dan- 
ger. Accordingly, he exposed himself to the utmost 
resentment of the king, in pleading David's cause, and 
narrowly escaped with his own life. Finding, therefore, 
that all his exertions would be ineffectual, he went to 
apprize the son of Jesse of the fatal consequences that 
were likely to ensue, and to urge him to provide for 
his personal safety by immediate flight. 

David, having taken a melancholy farewell of his be- 
loved friend, hastened to ^ land of Nob, and, under 
pretence of executing some private business for the 
king, persuaded Abimelech, the high priest, to give 
him the sword of Goliath, and some refreshments for 
himself* and tne young men that were with him. He 
then resolved to seek an asylum with the king of Gath ; 
but, finding that his late intrepid actions were remem- 
bered in that place with unabated resentment, he pru- 
dently changed his design, and counterfeited the behav- 
iour of a lunatic. A circumstance which enabled him 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 145 

*to escape the vengeance of the Philistine courtiers, and 
to retire, unmolested, to the cave of Adullam. 

Meanwhile Saul, having received intelligence of all 
that had passed at Nob between David and Abimelech, 
was so violently exasperated, that he caused the inno- 
cent high priest and all his kindred to be inhumanly 
murdered, and afterward wreaked his vengeance with 
such severity on the citizens of Nob, that none but 
Abiathar, one of the high priest's sons, escaped the 
general slaughter. 

Among the principal persons who followed David in 
his exile were his parents, brethren, and the prophet 
Gad, who were soon joined by distressed and discon- 
tented subjects, to the number of four hundred. Abia- 
thar, also, having fortunately escaped the sad fate of his 
relatives, Eed to the retreat of David, where he was as- 
sured of protection, and cheered with the hope of a 
future remuneration for all his disasters. After some 
time, Gad advised that David should repair to the forest 
of Hareth, where he continued for a short space, and 
then removed to the wilderness of Ziph, with a con- 
siderable reinforcement of adherents. Here he receiv- 
ed a private visit from Jonathan ; and, after repeating 
his former assurances of friendship, solemnly vowed 
that if he ever ascended the throne of Israel, he would 
recompence these kind offices with the second dignity 
in the kingdom. 

The treachery of the Ziphites compelled David to re* 
tnove first to the wilderness of Maon, and afterward to 
Engedi, where he was overtaken by Saul at the head of 
three thousand men ; but Heaven interposed on behalf 
of its votary, and the king by retiring to the fugitive^ 
cave, was exposed to destruction. David, however, dis* 
o 



146 FkOM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

dained the idea of either taking an undue advantage, 
or of injuring the Lord's anointed, and contented him- 
self with cutting off the skirt of his enemy's robe, and 
permitting him to escape alive. As soon, therefore, 
as Saul had quitted the cave, he boldly discovered him* 
self, and earnestly requested that he might be no longer 
considered as a traitor, seeing he had now given a con- 
vincing proof of his loyalty and affection. This affect- 
ing speech, reinforced with the infallible testimony of 
the mutilated skirt, melted the jealous monarch into 
tears, and obliged him to acknowledge that his son's 
superior virtue and magnanimity, rendered him truly 
worthy to sway the Israelitish sceptre. He therefore 
urged him to take an oath, that he would never revenge 
his injuries upon the house of Saul ; but treat them 
with the same tenderness he had now shown to their 
father. This request was cheerfully granted, and, after 
mutual embraces, the king retired to Gibeah, and Da- 
vid returned with his faithful adherents to their tem- 
porary asylum. 
B. C. This occurrence was soon followed by the 
1059. death of Samuel, which happened in the nine- 
ty seventh year of his age. His administration of jus- 
tice, for the space of twenty years, was marked by such 
strict integrity, that, on his making a solemn appeal to 
the people, no man could accuse him of one venal or 
injudicious action. He continued to act in the capacity 
of a prophet for thirty six years after the change of 
the Israelitish government : and his remains were in- 
terred, amidst universal lamentations, in his own estate 
at Ramah. 

David, having removed from the vicinage of Engedi 
to the wilderness of Paran, sent a message to an opulent 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 147 

Carmelite, called Nabal, who was then celebrating a 
feast with his sheep shearers, desiring him to send some 
refreshments for his little army, which had rigidly ab- 
stained from committing any depredations on the adja- 
cent country, or its inhabitants. Nabal, being naturally 
of a churlish and covetous disposition, returned so inso- 
lent an answer to this request, that David threatened to 
extirpate his whole family. However, Abigail, the 
Carmelite's wife, prevented the execution of this design, 
by going in person to David's retreat, with an ample 
supply of provisions, and making a handsome apology 
for the rudeness of her husband. On her return home, 
she acquainted Nabal with the danger he had incurred 
by his unprovoked brutality ; upon which he was imme- 
diately taken ill and died. A circumstance which in- 
duced David to espouse* the widow, with whose modes- 
ty and discretion he had been greatly charmed. 

Forgetful of his protestations at Engedi, Saul again 
resolved on the destruction of his rival, and accordingly 
encamped against him, at the head of three thousand 
chosen men, in the desert of Ziph. Here David had a 
fresh opportunity of demonstrating his innocence : for, 
having penetrated, with Abishai, into the enemy's camp, 
at midnight, and discovered Saul reposing in his tent, 
with a spear stuck in the ground by his bolster, and 
several of his officers sleeping around him, he positively 
refused to kill him, and contented himself with carrying 
away the spear and a cruse of water, that was placed 
under the monarch's head. On his return to his strong, 
hold he called aloud to Saul's general, and upbraided him 
with negligence in regard to his master's safety, at the 

* Saul had at this time given David's wife, Michal, to an- 
other man, 



MS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF HONARCKir 

same time commanding him to produce the king's spear 
and cruse of water. Saul was overwhelmed with con- 
fusion at this adventure, and, after acknowledging him- 
self indebted a secoxjd time for the preservation of his 
life to his injured son in law, he broke up his encamp- 
ment, and departed with many assurances of friendship. 
David, however, was too well acquainted with his ad- 
versary's disposition to trust to his professions, and 
therefore retired to Achish, king of Gath, who gener- 
ously pitied his misfortunes, and allotted the city of 
Ziglag for his residence. 

During his stay at Ziglag, he was reinforced by some 
of Saul's relations, and many valiant persons of the 
tribes of Benjamin Gad, and Judah, with whom he 
made several incursions into the territories of the Ge^ 
shurites, Gerizzites and Amalekites ; whilst the king 
was persuaded that these expeditions were undertaken 
against Judah, and reposed svch confidence in the at- 
tachment of David, that he would have given him a con^ 
siderable command in an army against Saul, had not his 
design been overruled by the lords of the Philistines. 

Whilst David was employed against some of the 
idolatrous nations, the Amalekites resolved to take an 
ample revenge for the injuries they had lately sustained,, 
and accordingly marched against Ziglag, which they 
subdued and reduced to ashes. They then set out 
on their return with the plunder and captives : but, 
being unexpectedly overtaken and attacked by David 
whilst they were indulging in mirth and jollity, they 
were slaughtered from break of day till sunset, so that 
none of them escaped destruction, except four hundred 
young men who were indebted for their safety, to the 
fleetness of their dromedaries. 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 149 

Meanwhile Saul, finding himself abandoned by many 
of his bravest subjects, and being extremely anxious 
concerning the event of an approaching battle, went in 
disguise to Endor, and prevailed on a woman, who had 
a familiar spirit, to raise up Samuel. When the sor- 
ceress had consented to gratify his request, and the ex- 
pected phantom made its appearance, Saul bowed him- 
self to the earth, and apologised for his unlawful expe- 
dient, by adverting to the distracted situation of his af- 
fairs. But the prophet replied that his application for 
counsel was totally useless, since he had forfeited the 
love of his God by disobedience, and solemnly assured 
him that he should, on the following day, be deprived of 
his kingdom and life. This awful prediction had such 
an effect upon the agitated monarch, that he fainted 
away, and continued for some time under a total de- 
privation of sense. At length, however, he was pre- 
vailed on to take some slight refreshment, and to return 
to his army. 
B. C. The battle began, next morning, between the 
1055. Israelites and Philistines, with extraordinary fu- 
ry ; but victory soon decided in favour of the enemy, 
and the Hebrew troops were routed with prodigious 
slaughter. Saul, perceiving that his case was now to- 
tally hopeless, and dreading the horrors of captivity, ter- 
minated his earthly calamities by an act of suicide. 
His dead body was found by the Philistines, and expos- 
ed, with those of his unfortunate sons, upon the walls 
of Beth Shan : but the inhabitants of Jabesh soon re- 
moved them from that ignominious station, and inter- 
red them with due solemnity, as an acknowledgement of 
gratitude for the important deliverance which Saul? at 
his accession, had wrought on their behalf* 
2 



150 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF M.ONARCHT 

David, having lamented the fatal catastrophe of his 
sovereign, and his friend Jonathan, and having punish- 
ed an Amalekite with death for affirming that he had 
given Saul his last wound, removed to Hebron, where 
he was again anointed king by the tribe of Judah, who 
resorted to him in great multitudes. Abner, however, 
caused Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, to be proclaimed at 
Mahanaim ; so that the kingdom was divided between 
two monarchs, who governed their respective partisans, 
without any opposition for the space of two years. 

Immediately after his elevation to the regal digni- 
ty, David sent a deputation to thank the inhabitants of 
Jabesh Gilead, for their respectful behaviour on the 
death of their prince. And about the same time, he 
strengthened his political importance by espousing 
Maacah, princess of Geshur. 

At the end of two years, a rupture broke out between 
the forces of David and Ishbosheth, and a battle ensu- 
ed, in which the latter were defeated with a great 
slaughter, and their general, Abner, was compelled to flee 
for his life. The pursuit was continued, with unabated 
vigor till sunset, when the Benjamites rallied near the 
wilderness of Gibeon, with a resolution to make a des- 
perate defence ; but Abner being totally exhausted, 
called to David's general, and entreated him to put a 
stop to an effusion of blood, which would infallibly cause 
much regret and bitterness in the end. Accordingly 
Joab, having sounded a retreat, returned to Hebron, 
and Abner with the poor remnant of his army proceed- 
ed to Mahanaim. 

Some time after this engagement, Abner, being rep- 
rimanded by Ishbosheth for some improper conduct, 
resolved to throw off his allegiance and embrace the 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES, \i>l 

earliest opportunity of tendering his services to the 
rival sovereign. Accordingly, having obtained permis- 
sion to convey Michal to her first husband, he went to 
Hebron, and was very graciously received : but as he 
was returning home, he received a message from Jo- 
ab, and, by attending the summons, became an easy 
prey to the jealousy of that warrior, who assasinated 
him with his own hand, under pretence of revenging 
the death of his brother Asahel. David expressed the 
most lively sorrow at this tragical circumstance, and, 
after uttering many imprecations against the murder- 
er, attended the corpse of Abner to the grave with all 
possible solemnity and respect. 
B. C. The death of Abner was soon followed by 
1053. that of Ishbosheth ; for Baanah and Rechab 
two of his captains, murdered him whilst he was asleep, 
and carried his head to Hebron, in hope of receiving an 
ample reward. David, however, expressed the utmost 
abhorrence of their treachery, and caused the ensan- 
guined head to be deposited in Abner's sepulchre ; 
while the barbarous regicides were put to death, and 
their hands and feet were hung up over the pool of 
Hebron. 

After David had enjoyed the government, in Hebron, 
for about seven years and a half, the rest of the tribes 
Voluntarily assembled, and anointed him king over all 
Israel : A circumstance which soon enabled him to 
take both Jerusalem and the fortress of Sion by assault, 
and to give a decisive overthrow to the Jebusites, who 
had hitherto withstood the united attacks of Judah and 
Simeon. The conquered fortress was now converted 
into the royal residence, and the city, being enlarged 
and fortified, became, from that time, the metropolis of 
Judeai The Philistines; also were &o effectually dis- 



152 FKOM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

eomfited, in two different engagements, that they werr 
never again in a condition to make head against the 
Hebrews. 

Strengthened by these important victories* and con- 
ceiving himself to be firmly established on the throne, 
David formed an alliance with the king of Tyre, and 
prevailed on him to send a certain number of expert 
workmen, and a sufficient quantity of fine timber to 
build a paiace on the spot which was now honoured 
with the appellation of the city of David. He also 
formed the design of making this place the centre of 
God's worship, by removing thither the ark of the cov- 
enant which had remained for near fifty years at Kir- 
jath Jearim. 

This design being unanimously approved by the eld- 
ers of Israel, the ark was set upon a new cart in order 
to be carried to Jerusalem, accompanied by the king 
and his whole court, together with a multitude of 
priests and Levites, who played on various instruments, 
and chanted the high praises of their Creator. How- 
ever, their joy was suspended by a sudden and unex- 
pected accident ; for the oxen that drew the ark hap- 
pening to start at Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah, one 
of Abinadab's sons, clapped his hand upon the sacred 
symbol, and was immediately struck dead for his pre- 
sumption. In consequence of this awful occurrence, 
the ark was deposited in the house of a Levite, called 
Obed Edom, for the space of three months, at the ex- 
piration of which time it was conveyed with extraor- 
dinary solemnity to Jerusalem, and placed in a magnif- 
icent tabernacle which had been purposely erected for 
its reception. Priests and Levites were also appointed 
to officiate before it, according to their respective func- 
tions, and a number of musicians were engaged to s&t 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 153; 

&nd accompany such psalms as the king or any other 
inspired person, thought proper to compose for the sac-~ 
red festivals. 

David, having made these arrangements, next con- 
ceived the desire of building a sumptuous temple to the 
God of his fathers, and sent to desire a private confer- 
ence with Nathan upon the subject. The prophet obey-*- 
ed the royal summons, and applauded the pious design : 
but he was, afterward, directed to tell the king, that, 
though his intentions were acceptable to God, he was 
not a proper person to undertake such a work, because 
his hands had been frequently defiled with blood : but 
that he should leave a son and successor, who should 
execute his wishes with all imaginable splendor. On 
the reception of this message, David prostrated him- 
self before the Lord with becoming sentiments of grati- 
tude ; and, from that time, began to lay up immense 
quantities of precious stones, metals, timber and other 
materials for the use of his promised heir. 
B. C. After making some prudent regulations in 
1037. j-Vi e civil and ecclesiastical affairs of his king- 
dom, and conferring some particular marks of favour 
upon Mepbibosheth, the only son of his friend Jonathan, 
David was grossly insulted by Hanun, king of the Am- 
monites, and, about the same time, attacked by some 
forces belonging to the Syrians. The former, however,. 
was severely chastised for his insolence, and the latter- 
were so effectually defeated, that they earnestly requested 
a peace on the shameful condition of becoming tributary 
to the Hebrews. During the siege ofHanun's metropo« 
lis, a circumstance took place which fixed an indelible 
stain on David's character, and tarnished the glory 
of all his achievements ; for, whilst Joab with a select 



3 54 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

detachment, was fighting, at Rabbah, against the ene- 
mies of Israel, the king became enamoured of the wife 
of his captain Uriah, and gratified his unlawful pas- 
sion at the expence of honor and religion. He also 
used the most reprehensible means to conceal the per- 
petration of his crime ; and, finding these ineffectual, 
he sent a letter to Joab, wherein he commanded him to 
expose the injured husband to some imminent danger, 
and leave him to the fury of the besieged. This nefa- 
rious project was attended with the desired effect, and 
David sheltered the adulteress from punishment by 
making her his wife. 

In consequence of this transgression, Nathan was 
sent to Court, by the Almighty, to awaken the offender 
to a sense of contrition, and to induce him to pronounce 
sentence against himself. Accordingly, the prophet 
accosted him with a parable of an opulent man who 
had spared his own numerous flocks, and seized upon 
an only favourite lamb of a poor neighbour, to satisfy 
the appetite of an hungry visitor. He embellished this 
story with such aggravating circumstances, and spoke 
so pathetically of the tenderness with which the poor 
man had nourished his beloved lamb, that the king 
hastily exclaimed, u As the Lord liveth, the man that 
hath done this thing shall surely die ; and he shall re- 
store the lamb four fold, because he had no pity." At 
the awful replication, however, " Thou art the man," 
he was overwhelmed with confusion ; and upon the, 
denunciation of God's vengeance against him, he ac» 
knowledged, in the language of true humility, that he 
had sinned against the Lord. This remorse obtained an 
alleviation of his punishment : but the fruit of his adul* 
terous commerce with Bathsheba was doomed to death, 
and he was solemnly assured that his crime should be 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 155 

expiated by the defilement of his own wives in the face 
of the sun. David endeavoured to obtain a reprieve 
for his child, by fasting, prayer, and other marks 
of repentance ; but, finding all his exertions ineffec- 
tual, he submitted to the will of his Maker. Some time 
after, Bathsheba bore him another son, whom he called 
Solomon, and wiio was honoured, hy Nathan, with the 
epithet of Jedidiah, or " beloved of the Lord." 

From this time, David's life was embittered by many 
domestic vexations. Amnion, his eldest son, had scarce- 
ly attained his eighteenth year when he committed in- 
cest with one of his sisters, and shortly afterward fell a 
sacrifice to the resentment of Absalom, who sheltered 
himself from punishment with the king of Geshur, and 
after an interim of three years procured a free pardon. 

B.C. Absalom had no sooner returned to Jerusalem 

1023. and reinstated himself in his father's affection, 
than he conceived the infamous design of exciting a 
general revolt, and seizing the kingdom. According- 
ly, he procured a sumptuous equipage to attract atten- 
tion, and, by an affected compassion for those who 
brought their causes before the royal tribunal, he insen- 
sibly acquired a dangerous degree of popularity, and 
soon persuaded the fickle populace that his government 
would be much more equitable and beneficial than that 
of the reigning prince. Having, by these means, assured 
himself of a numerous body of partisans, he asked per- 
mission to go to Hebron, under pretence of performing 
a vow, and there put himself at the head of the rebels 
who had been previously instructed to proclaim him 
king, on their hearing the sound of the trumpet. 

Upon the first intelligence of this unnatural revolt, 
David left his palace under the care often concubines, 



'156 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

and retreated, with a few faithful adherents, to the 
open country. The high priests Zadok and Abiathar, 
resolved to follow their sovereign in his sad extremi- 
ty ; but he positively refused this mark of their alle- 
giance, and commanded them to carry back the ark to 
Jerusalem, urging the impropriety of removing that 
sacred symbol on such an occasion, and reminding 
them that they might render him more beneficial ser- 
vice by sending intelligence of all that passed in the 
city, and assisting him with occasional advice. As soon 
as the priests had departed, David earnestly prayed 
that the counsels of Ahithophel, a famous politician, 
who had deserted his cause, might be rendered abor* 
live ; and then proceeded with his little troop toward 
Mount Olivet. The march thither was unspeakably 
mournful ; the king, bathed in tears, with his head 
covered, and his feet bare, ascended slowly, while his 
sorrowful retinue, unable to offer consolation in so dis- 
tressing an exigence, evinced the acuteness of their 
anguish by the strongest expressions of grief. When 
they had reached the top of the mountain, and had 
offered up their humble petitions to the Deity, they 
were joined by an old friend, named Hushai, who came 
to share the sad fortune of his prince ; but at David*s 
request, he consented to return and offer his services 
to the usurper, in order to obtain an opportunity of 
confounding Ahithophel's counsel, and of gaining 
satisfactory intelligence of every new design and res- 
olution. 

David proceeded on his melancholy journey till he 
reached the village of Bahurim, where he was grossly 
insulted, and even pelted with stones, by a person of 
Saul's family named Shimei. This act of audacity 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRI&ES. 157 

enraged the king's attendants so violently that they im- 
mediately offered to smite off the offender's head ; but 
David restrained their fury, by reminding them, that 
since his own son was capable of conspiring against 
his life, it was by no means strange that this Benjamite 
should regard him with detestation as having been the 
author of Saul's greatest misfortunes. He likewise re- 
marked that the imprecations which had roused their 
indignation might probably have resulted from the com* 
mandof the Almighty, in which case patience and re* 
signation would be the best means of averting their 
effects. 

Meanwhile, Absalom entered Jerusalem in triumph, 
and having ordered a pavilion to be reared up on the 
roof of the palace, violated the females whom he found 
there, according to the prediction of Nathan. Ahitho- 
phel, who had counselled the usurper to commit this 
daring outrage in order to preclude the possibility of a 
reconciliation with the exiled monarch, next proposed 
that he should be sent with a body of twelve thousand 
men to fall upon David's little company, while they 
were exhausted with flight and distracted by apprehen- 
sion : but Hushai, who had contrived to conciliate Ab- 
salom's esteem by the warmth of his congratulations, 
argued so eloquently against this measure, and adduced 
such plausible reasons for his remonstrance, that the 
design was laid aside ; and Ahithophel, in a fit of vex- 
ation, rode home and hanged himself. 

David, being apprized of this circumstance, crossed 
the Jordan, with his little army, at midnight, and next 
morning arrived at Mahanaim, where several of his 
faithful servants had assembled to tender their services, 
and to present him with provisions, couches, tents, and 
p 



158 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

other necessary articles. At the same time, the usurp- 
er advanced with a powerful body of forces, under 
the conduct of Amasa, and encamped in the land of 
Gilead. 

After taking some needful refreshment, and arrang- 
ing his affairs in the best possible order, David divided 
his army into three bodies, under the command oPJoab 
and his two brothers ; and declared his intention of ap- 
pearing in person against his rebellious son. This de- 
sign, however, was overruled, and the king remained 
at Mahanaim with a small body af guards, whilst a bat- 
tle was fought in the forest of Ephraim, which termi- 
nated in the defeat of the rebels and the death of their 
unnatural leader ; for while the revolted troops were 
fleeing from the superior bravery of their opponents, 
Absalom was caught by his hair in the thick branches 
of a tree, and exposed to the fury of Joab, who imme- 
diately pierced him through the body with three ar- 
rows, and flung him into a pit which w r as afterward 
filled up with stones. David, however, appears to 
have been more solicitous for the safety of his son? 
than for his own restoration : for on his receiving 
intelligence of the event, he retired to an apartment 
over the gate of Mahanaim, exclaiming, in all the ag- 
ony of paternal grief, " O Absalom, my son, my son, 
would to God I had died for thee !" 

After the agitated monarch had given full vent to his 
sorrow, Joab took the liberty to rebuke him for his 
weakness, and argued so forcibly on the fatal conse- 
quences which might result from it, that David was 
obliged to conceal his resentment for the loss of his son, 
and to show himself to the people with a cheerful coun- 
tenance. By adopting this expedient he effectually con- 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 1 o9 

ciliated the esteem of his subjects, and received such 
demonstrations of public affection, that he was soon in a 
capacity to return to Jerusalem. He, accordingly, re- 
quested the ciders of Judah to escort him to his metrop- 
olis, and sent to assure Amasa that if he would come 
over to his party, he should be appointed general of the 
army instead of Joab, who was dismissed. But these 
arrangements were productive of much mischief ; for 
the partiality expressed towards Judah excited such jeal- 
ousy in the other tribes, that they again threw off their 
allegiance, and Joab was inflamed with a spirit of re- 
venge which was only pacified by the blood of his new 
rival. 

Sheba, the rebellious Benjamite who had assembled 
the discontented Hebrews by sound of trumpet, and 
bade open defiance to the king and his adherents, was 
pursued by Abishai with such speed, that he was com- 
pelled to take refuge behind the walls of Beth Maachah. 
Joab, having assassinated his competitor at the stone of 
Gibeon, hastened to this place, and, without the sove- 
reign's orders, began the siege in form: but a woman 
having appeared on the battlements, with an assurance 
that Sheba's head should be thrown over the wall, on 
condition of his forbearing to commit hostilities, he 
marched back to Jerusalem, and gained such populari- 
ty, that David deemed it expedient to reinstate him in 
his former employment. 
B. C. About two years after this event, Judea was 
1021. smitten with a dreadful famine, which raged 
with unabated fury for three years. At length, how- 
ever, it was discovered that God had inflicted this heavy 
calamity for the murder of the Gibeonites, whom Saul 
and his cruel relatives had unjustly caused to be slain. 



160 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 

Hereupon the king sent to know what satisfaction the 
Gibeonites demanded for that injury, and, in compli- 
ance with their request, caused seven males of Saul's 
family to be put to death ; by which means the famine 
was stayed. 

After this transaction, the Philistines were defeated 
with great loss in four successive battles : but David had 
not long enjoyed the fruits of victory, before he in- 
curred the Divine displeasure, and brought a dreadful 
calamity upon the kingdom by numbering his people, 
in opposition to the remonstrances of his faithful ser- 
vants. The unfortunate account was no sooner taken, 
than the prophet Gad was sent to the offender, in order 
to propound as a punishment, either seven years 9 famine, 
three days' flight before the enemy, or three days' pes- 
tilence. The king was now forcibly struck with the 
impropriety of his late conduct, and bitterly regretted 
the folly which had subjected him to the necessity of 
making so hard a choice ; but as he knew that it would 
be fruitless to expect a free pardon, and as he rightly 
considered that the calamities of war and famine would 
be chiefly felt by the lower orders of the community, 
who had had no share in the transgression, he chose the 
pestilence, as the most equal punishment of the three, 
and as that which appeared to be more immediately un- 
der the Divine direction. No sooner had he fixed his 
choice, than that dreadful distemper made its appear* 
ance, and diffused its baneful effects through the coun- 
try with such terrific rapidity 5 that seventy thousand 
persons were cut off before the expiration of the third 
day. At length, however, while the destroying angel 
stood by the threshing floor of Araunah, and the inhab- 
itants of Jerusalem began to feel the sad effects of his 






TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 161 

commission, David prostrated himself before the Lord, 
and earnestly requested that he might be permitted 
to expiate his crime with his own life, and that an inno- 
cent people might no longer groan under so dreadful 
a calamity. This humble petition was crowned with 
success ; and the king, having erected an altar on the 
threshing floor, had the satisfaction of beholding his 
victims consumed by miraculous fire, as a token of his 
Maker's acceptance and reconciliation. 
j> c. David had scarcely attained the age of sev- 
1015. enty years, when he began to feel the most 
certain indications of approaching dissolution, and his 
declining health induced Adcnijah, the brother of Ab- 
salom, to make splendid preparations for ascending the 
throne : but the king, being reminded of his promise 
in favour of Solomon^ and hearing that Adonijah had 
prepared a feast at Zoheleth for his partisans, who de- 
signed to invest him with the regal title, issued out or- 
ders that the son of Bathsheba should be immediately 
mounted on his own mule, and conducted to Gihon, in 
order to receive the royal unction ; and to be, after- 
ward, proclaimed his successor by sound of the trumpet. 
These commands were executed so suddenly, that the 
conspirators were totally ignorant of the transaction, till 
they were alarmed with repeated shouts of" Long live 
king Solomon !" The cause of these acclamations be- 
ing fully explained to them by the son of Abiathar, they 
dispersed in the utmost consternation, and their am- 
bitious leader fled for refuge to the horns of the altar ; 
but, on making proper submissions, he was permitted 
to retire unmolested to his own house. 

Shortly after this transaction, David sent for his be- 
loved son to receive his last admonitions. He reminded 
f 2 



162 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 



him, that all the promises of the Deity relative to him- 
self and his posterity were conditional, and would be 
fulfilled in proportion to his and their obedience. He 
recommended some faithful adherents to his particular 
favour and protection ; exhorted him to punish Joab for 
the murder of Absalom, Abner, and Amasa ; and re- 
minded him that though Shimei's insolence had been 
hitherto pardoned in consequence of an oath, yet that 
obligation would be now cancelled. Having made these 
observations, and conjured his successor to adhere 
strictly to the statutes of his God, the royal Israelite ex- 
pired in the seventy fifth year of his age, and in the for- 
tieth of his reign. He left an immense treasure in his 
palace, besides that which was set apart for the temple ; 
and his remains were interred, with due solemnity, in 
the city of Jerusalem. 

Notwithstanding the disgrace which he had incur- 
red by his late attempt upon the crown, Adonijah made 
use of Bathsheba's intercession to obtain the hand of a 
Shunamitish virgin, who had been the cherisher of Da- 
vid's old age, but Solomon was highly incensed at the 
request, and caused his brother to be immediately put 
to death. Joab was also dragged from the altar to 
execution, and succeeded in his post of general by 
Benaiah ; Abhth, r, who had been engaged in the late 
conspiracy, was degraded from the sacerdotal office, 
and confined to his own territories at Anathoth ; and 
Shimei was told that he must either confine himself 
within the walls of Jerusalem, or incur the penalty of 
death. The old man thanked the king for his unex- 
pected clemency ; but venturing, some years after, to 
pursue two runaway servants, his disobedience received 
the threatened punishment. 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRI3ES. 163 

Solomon, having acquitted himself of his father's in- 
junctions, deemed it advisable to form an alliance with 
the Egyptians, and accordingly married the princess of 
that people, who received, by way of dowry, the city of 
Gezer, which had been taken from the Canaanites. 
He then removed to Gibeon, where the ark was sta- 
tioned, and gave such proofs of his devotion to the God 
of his fathers, that he was indulged in a dream, with a . 
vision of the Deity, and with an assurance that he 
should receive the accomplishment of any single wish. 
Accordingly he prayed for such a degree of wisdom as 
might enable him to sway the sceptre with prudence 
and sagacity. A petition so acceptable to the Almigh- 
ty, that he was immediately endowed with greater wis- 
dom than had ever enlightened a human mind, and was 
gratified with the promise of every sublunary blessing, 
which he had judiciously overlooked. 

It was not long before Solomon gave a public and 
convincing proof of his extraordinary discernment ; for 
two women, having approached his tribunal with a dead 
and a living child, and each having asserted with equal 
ardor that the living infant was her own, he ordered 
the object of their dispute to be cut asunder, and equal- 
ly divided between the claimants. The real mother 
was so deeply affected with this sentence, that she im- 
mediately renounced her pretentions, on condition the 
child's life might be spared ; and by that means dem- 
onstrated the justness of her own cause, and the base- 
ness of her antagonist. 

Nor was it only in the administration of justice that 
the new monarch acquired universal esteem ; but his 
wisdom and magnificence shone conspicuous in the 
choice of his counsellors, the institution of his laws, the 



164 FROItf THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY 



economy of his household, the strength and discipline 
of his army, and the immense number and wealth of his 
subjects. Beloved by his friends, revered by his allies, 
and dreaded by his enemies, he lived in the most pro- 
found tranquillity, and enriched his metropolis to such 
a degree, that even gold and silver lost their intrinsic 
value by their extraordinary abundance ; strangers 
flocked thither from all parts of the earth, to behold" 
the splendor of his court ; and those who had formed 
the very highest expectations were obliged to acknowl- 
edge that their conceptions had fallen infinitely short 
of the reality. 

Having prevailed on Hiram, king of Tyre, to send 
a certain quantity of cedar, fir, and other timber, upon 
floats to Joppa, together with some skilful artificers. 
Solomon resolved to accomplish his father's great de- 
sign of building a temple to the God of Israel ; and ac- 
cordingly laid the foundation in the fourth year of his 
reign, and the four hundred and eightieth after the 
emancipation of the Hebrews from their Egyptian bon- 
dage. The number of workmen employed was so pro- 
digious, and their industry so unremitting, that the sac- 
red structure was finished in little more than seven 
years, and foreigners were attracted to Judea by a new 
object which might have been justly stiled the glory of 
the earth. 
B. C^ The ceremony of dedication began on the 
1005. eighth day of the seventh month of the sacred 
year, or the first of the civil year, and lasted seven 
days, after which began the feast of tabernacles, and 
continued seven days longer, so that the multitude 
which flocked to that solemnity remained, at least, 
fourteen days in Jerusalem. The ceremony commenc- 
ed with a grand procession, in which the ark of the cov • 



TO THE REVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 16$ 

enant was carried with all possible solemnity to the new 
edifice, and placed bewteen the golden cherubims in the 
most holy place, whilst the air reechoed with the melo- 
dious sound of one hundred and twenty trumpets, and 
with the voices of the Levites, who sang the high 
praises cf their God, and, at proper stanzas, repeated, 
" Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his mer- 
cy endureth for ever." Whilst the ministers of the 
temple were thus employed, and the hearts of the con- 
gregation were impressed with the most lively sense of 
duty and gratitude, the consecrated fane was suddenly 
filled with a cloud, and the glory of the Lord appeared 
with such extraordinary radiance, that even the priests 
were unable to stand to offer the sacrifices which they 
had prepared. 

Solomon, who had accompanied the procession with 
his whole court, now kneeled down, and spreading his 
hands toward heaven, dedicated the building to God, 
in an appropriate prayer, which he offered in the audi** 
ence of all the people, entreating the Divine mercy to 
make it its residence in favour of the Israelites, and to 
accept the prayers of all the sons of Jacob, which should 
be directed thither in every exigence, and from every 
part of the world. A miraculous fire descending upon 
the altar, and consuming the victims, proved that these 
petitions were accepted ; Solomon, having pronounced 
an emphatic benediction on the people, retired to his 
own palace ; and the festival terminated with such a 
prodigious number of sacrifices, that the priests were 
obliged to erect several temporary altars in the court of 
the temple. 

After the completion of this sumptuous design, Solo* 
nmu erected two magnificent palaces for himself and 



166 FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF MONARCHY* 



4 



the princes of Egypt ; rebuilt and colonised twenty 
cities in Galilee ; and employed his Canaanitish slaves 
in surrounding his metropolis with a strong wall, and 
in fortifying all other places of importance in his do- 
minions. He, likewise, caused a navy to be built upon 
the coasts of the Red Sea, and sent it, under the care 
of some expert Tyrian mariners, to Ophir, whence he 
received, after an interim of three years, an immense 
quantity of precious stones, metals, ivory, ebony, spi- 
ces, and some peculiar sorts of timber which were used 
for the decoration of the galleries about the temple, 
and other sacred purposes. 

Among the illustrious personages who were induced 
to visit Jerusalem by the fame of Solomon's magnifi- 
cence, was the queen of Sheba, a princess of transcend- 
ent wisdom, and of such uncommon opulence, that she 
actually vied with the Israelitish monarch, in the splen- 
dor of her equipage, and the sumptuousness of her 
presents. The king received her with great respect, 
and entertained her with a view of all the magnificent 
objects in his metropolis, at which she expressed the 
highest satisfaction ; but she was more attracted by 
Solomon's wisdom than his power, and readily owned 
that it was not without reason that he was esteemed 
the wisest prince of his time. After convincing her- 
self of the depth of his penetration, by proposing vari- 
ous subtle questions and enigmas for his solution, she 
presented him with one hundred and twenty talents of 
gold, an immense quantity of precious stones, and ma* 
ny rich perfumes, and was dismissed with equal marks 
of friendship and munificence. 

Hitherto we have observed nothing in Solomon's life 
but what conveys the highest idea of his wisdom, wealth* 



t 



TO THE KiLVOLT OF TEN TRIBES. 167* 

and piety : but as he advanced in years he became in- 
fatuated with the love of idolatrous women, and grad- 
ually sunk into the practices of their national abomina- 
tions ; insomuch that Jerusalem itself was surrounded 
with idols, temples, and altars, in open defiance to the 
Divine command, and the whole land was defiled with 
idolatrous incense and other offerings. In consequence 
of this defection, the deluded prince was assured, in a 
dream, that his successors should be punished for his 
ingratitude with the loss of the whole kingdom, except 
the tribe of Judah, which should continue its allegiance, 
in consideration of the promise which God had given 
to David. Whether Solomon was awakened to re- 
pentance by this awful denunciation, is a point on which 
the sacred historian is silent : but it appears that he 
paid the debt of nature in the fifty eighth year of his 
age, and the fortieth of his reign ; and that he was bu- 
ried in the stately sepulchre of his father, at Jerusalem. 
During the latter part of Solomon's reign, a spirit of 
discontent had been gradually diffused through the land 
of Canaan, and the adjacent countries : so that Reho- 
boam, the heir apparent, had three powerful enemies to 
encounter, viz. Hadad, king of Edom, who bore an in- 
veterate hatred to the house of David, by whom he had 
been driven into exile ; Rezin, king of Damascus, who 
longed for an opportunity of revenging David's hostili- 
ties on the Zobeans ; and Jeroboam, an enterprising 
Ephraimite, who had been told, by the prophet Ahi- 
jah, that God would give him the sovereignty over 
the ten tribes which were to shake off their allegiance 
to the reigning family. 
B. C In this posture of affairs, Rehoboam went, 
975. vvith his courtiers, and the elders of all the tribes, 



168 FROM THE COMMEtfCEMEtf? OF MONARCHY, kc. 

to receive the homage of his people at Shechem ; but 
they positively refused to acknowledge him for their 
sovereign, unless he would promise to lighten that yoke 
which, toward the end of his father's reign, had become 
insupportable. The prince took three days to meditate 
on this proposal, and at length replied (in pursuance of 
the advice of some rash youths who had been brought 
up with him in luxury and indolence.) that he designed 
to govern with greater severity than Solomon had ever 
exercised ; and that, if they presumed to murmur, he 
would use scorpions, instead of whips, as the instru- 
ments of their chastisement. This insolent answer ex- 
asperated the Israelites so highly, that they immediately- 
renounced their allegiance, and ten of the tribes placed 
themselves under the government of Jeroboam, accord* 
ing to the prediction of Ahijah. Judah and Benjamin 
still adhered to the house of David, and conducted Re* 
hoboam to Jerusalem, where they made formidable 
preparations for reducing their revolted brethren to obe- 
dience ; but the intended hostilities were soon prevented 
by the prophet Shemaiah, who solemnly asserted that 
this defection was of God. From this time, therefore, 
the Land of Promise was divided into two kingdoms, 
each of which, being governed by a succession of princes 
of various character and fortune, demands a separate 
examination. 



i€9 



CHAPTER VIL 

The Kingdom of Israel, from its foundation by Jeroboam, 
to its dissolution by S/ialmaneser King of Assyria, 

B. C. T 
975. J EROBO AM had no sooner received the regal 

title than he rebuilt Penuel, fixed his royal residence at 
Shechem, and erected two golden calves, one at Dan 
and the other at Bethel, in order to prevent his new 
subjects from going to offer their devotions, on any sol- 
emn occasion, at Jerusalem. He also built several al* 
tars and temples on the high places, and selected some 
of the vilest of the people to officiate as priests before 
his idols, because all the Levites had refused to forsake 
their lawful sovereign. 

Pursuant to the king's proclamation, a prodigious con- 
course of people assembled at Bethel, and magnificent 
preparations were made for the dedication of the two 
calves : but in the midst of the solemnities, a prophet 
denounced the destruction of the new altar by a future 
king of Judah, and assured the multitude that the al- 
tar itself should immediately exhibit a proof of God's 
indignation. These words w r ere no sooner uttered than 
it burst asunder, and the ashes that were upon it fell to 
the ground. Jeroboam was so violently incensed at 
this incident, and at the menaces with which it had been 
accompanied, that he stretched out his hand to cause 
the prophet to be apprehended ; but, to his great sur- 
prise, he felt it withered in an instant : upon proper sub* 



17Q THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

mission, however, the monarch's hand was restored* 
and the prophet departed toward his own city. 

Notwithstanding this extraordinary event, Jeroboam 
continued to practise every species of idolatrous abomi- 
nation, and to debauch his subjects from the worship of 
the true God. At length, his son being afflicted with a 
dangerous malady, he sent his wife to inquire of the 
prophet Ahijah respecting his recovery. Ahijah, though 
blind with age, knew his visitor immediately, and bade 
her tell her husband that since he had basely forgotten 
the author of his greatness, and had filled Israel with the 
worship of dumb idols, he should not only be deprived 
of his sick child, but all his posterity should be eventual- 
ly cut off, and become the prey of dogs and ravens. 
The king, however, still persisted in his transgression, 
and continued to defile the land with heathenish super- 
stitions till his death, which happened about twenty 
two years after his exaltation to the throne. 

Nadab succeeded to the throne of Israel upon the de- 
mise of Jeroboam, but nothing remarkable happened 
during his short reign. He is represented as a profli- 
gate prince, who retained all the idolatrous practices of 
his father ; and at the expiration of two years he was 
killed, at the seige of Gibbethon, by a man named Ba- 
asha, of the tribe of Issachar, who boldly seized on the 
vacant throne, and exterminated the whole race of 
Jeroboam. 
B. C. Baasha had no sooner obtained possession of 

93 °- the sovereignty, than he began to build a for- 
tress at Ramah, to cut off all communication with the 
rival kingdom ; and formed an alliance with Benhadad, 
against the king of Judah ; but by a well timed expe- 
dient of Asa, the Syrian monarch was induced to 



FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. 171 

abandon his new ally, and the usurper was compelled to 
leave his important work unfinished. The idolatrous 
practices of this monarch were of so heinous a nature, 
and his constant wars with Asa were so displeasing to 
God, that Jehu, the son of Hanani, was commissioned 
to tell him, that since he had walked in his predecessor's 
footsteps, he should also share in his punishment, and 
be cutoff with all his posterity. This awful prediction 
was soon accomplished in the death of Baasha, and the 
unhappy fate of his descendants. 

Elah succeeded his father in the government ; but 
after aft unworthy reign of two years, he was assassi- 
nated, at a banquet, by one of his officers, named Zim- 
ri, who immediately usurped the crown, and caused 
every branch of his predecessor's family to be massa* 
cred without pity or distinction* However, he did not 
long enjoy the object of his ambition ; for, at the expi- 
ration of seven days, he was besieged so closely by 
Omri, another general officer, that he shut himself up 
in the royal palace, and setting it on fire, perished in 
the flames, to avoid a more ignominious death. 

Omri, being acquainted with this circumstance, and 
having gained a decisive victory over Tibni, the son of 
Ginath, whom one part of the people had elected king, 
took full possession of the throne ; and founded the 
city of Samaria, which he, afterward, made the metrop- 
olis of his dominions. Nothing particular has been re- 
corded concerning his transactions ; but he appears to 
have practised and encouraged all the idolatries which 
had proved so fatal to his ^predecessors. 
B. C. Upon the demise of this prince, his son Ahab 

918 - took possession of the crown, and espoused- 
Jezebel the princess of Zidon, by whicji imprudent ac- 



172 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

tion a new system of abomination was introduced into 
Israel, and the worshippers of God were subjected to 
a cruel persecution. In consequence of these enormi- 
ties, the prophet Elijah presented himself before Ahab, 
and threatened him with a severe famine, as a punish- 
ment for his disobedience ; but the king seems to have 
been so regardless of the Deity*s anger, that he persist- 
ed in all his impieties, and sought out the prophets of 
God with such avidity, that Elijah himself was compell- 
ed to flee for safety to a lonely place in the vicinage of 
the river Jordan, where he drank of the brook Cherith, 
and received a daily allowance of food from seme rav- 
ens, which his Divine Master had directed to feed him. 
After some time, the waters of Cherith being ex- 
hausted, and the famine^ beginning to rage in the land, 
Elijah was commanded to go to Zarephath, a city of the 
Zidonians, where Providence had made other provision 
for his sustenance. Accordingly he travelled thither, 
and at the entrance of the city requested a widow, who 
was employed in gathering sticks, to give him a little 
bread and water. The poor woman replied, in a most 
pathetic manner, that she had no more than one hand- 
ful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, and 
that she Was about to partake of her last dinner with 
lier two beloved sons, who must, afterwards, inevitably 
perish with hunger. The prophet, however, repeated 
his request, and assured her that her hospitality should 
be amply remunerated : " for," said he, " the barrel 
of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil 
fail until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the 
earth." Elated by this assurance, the widow conduct- 
ed Elijah to her house, and rejoiced in the happy ac- 
complishment of his prediction ; for while her neigh« 



FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. 173 

hours groaned beneath the heavy pressure of the fam- 
ine, her cruse of oil flowed spontaneously, and her bar- 
rel of meal remained undiminished. 

After the prophet had spent some time in this retire- 
ment, the son of his hostess sickened and died ; and 
the afflicted mother exclaimed in all the bitterness of 
anguish, " O thou man of God, art thou come unto me 
to call my sins to remembrance, and to slay my son ?■* 
But the Deity vouchsafed to silence her complaints, 
and to set his seal, a second time, to the mission of her 
guest ; for, on Elijah's taking the child into his own 
chamber, and interceding with God on his behalf, the 
corse was restored to life, and the enraptured widow 
was compelled to acknowledge, " I know that thou art 
a man of God, and that the word of the Lord hv thy 
mouth is truth." 

At the end of three years, Elijah presented himself 
to Obadiah, governor of Ahab's house, and commanded 
him to acquaint the king with his arrival. Obadiah, 
■who was a pious man, and had expressed an extraor*- 
dinary zeal for God, by saving a hundred of his proph- 
ets from Jezebel's fury, was much astonished at this 
command, and even ventured to remonstrate against 
carrying it into execution, <{ for," said he, "there is 
scarcely a kingdom, or nation, from which Ahab has 
not exacted an oath to bring you to Samaria wherever 
you might be found." However, on the prophet's sol- 
emnly affirming that he would show himself to the 
king, Obadiah executed the message ; and such an 
interview took place as might naturally be expected 
between an impious monarch and a person of exempla- 
ry sanctity. After mutual invectives, however, Elijah 
obtained permission to assemble all the Israelites at 
c^2 



174 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

Mount Carmel, together with the priests of Baal, who 
were maintained at the queen's expense. He then re- 
proved the multitude for halting between two opinions, 
and dividing their service between the God of their fa- 
thers and an abominable idol. " You see," said he, 
" that I am the only prophet of the Lord that have es- 
caped destruction, while those of Baal are four hundred 
and fifty ; let them, therefore, offer a bullock to Baal, 
and I will offer up another to the God of Israel, and let 
the Deity who consumes his sacrifice by a miraculous 
fire, be henceforth the only object of your adoration." 
The people had no sooner expressed their approbation 
of this proposal, than the priests of Baal cut their bul- 
lock in pieces, laid it upon the altar, and called upon 
their god from morning till noon, when they began tc 
cut themselves with knives, according to their super- 
stitious custom, and leaped upon the altar which they had 
made ; while Elijah exhorted them to cry louder, ar 
ironically observed that Baal, being a great god, would 
undoubtedly hear them, unless he were either asleep, or 
on a journey, or more particularly employed. At length 
the prophet reared up an altar' of twelve stones, and 
laid the wood and victim in order upon it ; then, caus- 
ing a deep trench to be dug around it, and the whole 
to be overflowed with water, he addressed himself ill 
prayer to God, earnestly requesting that he would 
show himself to be the only God of the Universe. This 
petition was no sooner uttered, than a supernatural fire 
darted down from heaven, and consumed both the victim 
and altar, and even dried up all the water in the trench : 
in consequence of which phenomenon the people pros- 
trated themselves on the earth, exclaiming u The Lord 
he is the God." This acknowledgement 'was imme* 



FR031 ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. ITS 

diately followed by the destruction of the idolatrous 
priests ; but Jezebel vowed to take such ample revenge 
for the death of her favourites, that Elijah was again 
compelled to flee for his life. 

In the eighteenth year ofAhab's reign, Benhadad, 
king of Syria, came against Israel, at the head of a 
formidable army, and laid close siege to Samaria ; but 
he was repulsed by a handful of men, and compelled to 
retire with great loss. In the course of the following 
year he attempted to retrieve his credit, but was again 
overthrown with terrible slaughter, and narrowly es- 
caped being taken prisoner at the city of Aphek : how- 
ever, on his sending a submissive message, Ahab re- 
ceived him with the greatest cordiality, and carried him 
in his own chariot to the royal pavilion, where they 
agreed on a mutual alliance. This circumstance was 
so displeasing to the Almighty, that, as soon as the van- 
quished prince had returned to his own dominions, a 
prophet was sent to tell Ahab, that his own life should 
assuredly pay for that of his enemy, which he had un- 
justly spared. 

Sometime after the conclusion of peace with Syria, 
Jezebel caused one Naboth, a Jezreelite, to be falsely 
accused, and stoned to death, because he had refused 
to sell a vineyard which the king had desired to convert 
into a garden of herbs. But whilst Ahab was taking 
possession of the ground, the prophet Elijah came to 
him from God, and solemnly affirmed, that dogs should 
lick his blood where they had recently licked that of 
Naboth ; that Jezebel should be literally devoured by 
the same kind of animals ; and that all his posterity 
should be utterly exterminated. This awful prediction 
sunk so deep into Ahab's mind, that he immediately 



176 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

rent his clothes, returned home in evident confusion, 
and expressed such unfeigned contrition, that the threat- 
ened calamities were graciously suspended till his 
decease, 

The Syrians having, in violation of the late treaty, 
wrested Ramoth Gilead from Israel, Ahab resolved to 
force that important place out of their hands ; and ac- 
cordingly requested the assistance of Jehoshaphat, who 
had at this time honoured him with a visit. The king 
of Judah readily acceded to the proposal, but expressed 
a wish that God might be consulted respecting the issue 
of the proposed battle. Accordingly four hundred 
prophets were assembled, and unanimously assured the 
king that his arms should be crowned with success : but 
Micaiah, the son of Imlah, being solemnly questioned 
in the name of his God, replied, that the expedition 
would prove unfortunate to the troops, and fatal to their 
leader : for that the Deity had permitted the other 
prophets to be possessed with a lying spirit, in order to 
facilitate the execution of his judgments. Ahab, how- 
ever, paid no attention to these assertions, but marched 
with all possible expedition to the field of battle, where 
he was mortally wounded by an arrow from an unknown 
hand. In consequence of this accident a retreat was 
sounded by the Israelites, and the king's body was car- 
ried to Samaria, where his ensanguined armour and 
chariot were publicly washed, and where the dogs 
licked his blood, according to Elijah's prediction. 

B. C. Ahaziah, who succeeded his father in the 

896. kingdom, happened to be so materially hurt, 

in the course of the next year, by a fall, that he was 

seriously alarmed for the event, and sent a deputation to 

inquire of Baalzebub, the idol of Ekron, respecting his 



FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. 17!T 

recovery ; but the messengers were stopped in this 
journey by Elijah, and sent back with an assurance, that 
since their master had sent to the God of Ekron, as if 
there had been no God in Israel, he should never leave 
his bed till he was carried out of it for interment. The 
king desired his servants to describe the man who had 
sent them back with this mournful sentence, and upon 
their telling him that it was a hairy man, girded with a 
leathern girdle, he knew him to be Elijah, and expired 
soon after, according to his prophecy. 
B.C. Jehoram succeeded to the throne of his de- 
889- ceased brother ; and prevailed on Jehoshaphat 
to assist him against the Moabites, who had rebelled, 
and refused to pay their tribute in the preceding reign. 
The confederate armies took a compass of seven days' 
march through the desert of Edom, in the hope of ef- 
fecting their design by surprise ; but the enemy had 
assembled a powerful body of forces ; and Jehoram was 
so greatly distressed for water, that both himself and 
his followers were in imminent danger of perishing with 
thirst. In this exigence, however, Elisha, the famous 
successor of Elijah, obtained a miraculous supply, by a 
land flood, which not only removed the existing incon- 
venience, but enabled Israel to gain a decisive victory : 
for the Moabites, seeing the water look like blood, by 
reason of the reflection of the sun, and supposing that 
their adversaries had turned their arms against each 
other, ran hastily to the camp, in order to secure the 
spoil ; but were soon repulsed with considerable loss, 
and pursued to the very gates of Kir Hasereth, where 
the Moabitish king offered up his own son as a burnt 
sacrifice, in order to deprecate the anger of imaginary 
gods, and to prevent the ruin of his country. 



173 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

The idolatrous practices and ceremonies which defil- 
ed the kingdom of Israel during this reign, provoked 
the Almighty to bring Benhadad, king of Syria, against 
Samaria, at the head of a formidable army, which soon 
reduced the inhabitants to such extremities that an ass's 
head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and other 
articles in proportion. How long this siege had lasted 
we cannot determine ; but what might increase its evil 
effect* was, that the famine had begun some years be- 
fore in the country, insomuch, that Elisha was occa- 
sionally obliged to obtain a miraculous supply for the 
sons of the prophets, till the Syrian army forced him 
into the city. The extremities to which Samaria was 
now reduced were of so dreadful a nature, that the 
king began to impute the public distress to Elisha, and, 
after some time, determined to put him to death : but 
the prophet convinced him of the injustice of his suspic- 
ions, and assured him that, on the next day, there 
should be an abundant supply of provision in Samaria. 

This prediction was immediately accomplished : for 
some lepers, who lodged on the outside of the gate., 
being led by hunger to the Syrian camp, found the 
tents full of baggage and provisions, but totally evac- 
uated by the soldiers. Accordingly they brought the 
pleasing intelligence to Samaria ; and the king, after 
some hesitation, sent out a small party, who found that 
the enemy had really * fled, and left their Unts, horses 
and other articles behind them. 

* It appears that the Syrians, having- heard an extraordinary 
noise of chariots, horses, and armour, in the night, supposed 
that Jehoram had hired the forces of Egypt, and other na- 
tions to assist him ; and this supposition diffused such an uni- 
versal panic through the camp, that they fled in the utmost 
confusion, without even stopping to mount their horses. 



frROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. 179 

The Israelites were accordingly enriched with all the 
enemy's spoil, and the famine was turned into such an 
extraordinary plenty, that a measure of fine flour was 
sold for one shekel, and all other provisions at a pro- 
portionate rate in Samaria. At the same time a no- 
bleman, who had ventured to ridicule the idea of such 
a circumstance, and had been answered by Elisha that 
he should see it without tasting it, was trampled to 
death at the gate of the city. 

Some time after this memorable event, Jehoram, hav- 
ing heard of JBenhadad's death, and Hazael's usurpation, 
resolved to attempt the reduction of Ramoth Gilead ; 
and with the assistance of Ahaziah, accomplished his 
design : but he was so desperately wounded in the at- 
tack that he was obliged to return to Jezreel, and to 
leave Jehu, one of his captains, in care of the new con- 
quest. 

Meanwhile Elisha sent one of the young prophets 
to Ramoth, with instructions to anoint Jehu privately, 
and to tell him that he was appointed to execute the Di- 
vine vengeance against the idolatrous Jezebel, and all the 
rest of Ahab's ungodly family. Jehu, having received 
this important message, and acquainted his companions 
with his unexpected elevation, rode with all speed to 
Jezreel, and slew Jehoram at the vineyard for which 
Naboth had lost his life. The king of Judah was also 
involved in Jehoram's fate ; and Jezebel, being thrown 
from a window in the palace, was trodden under foot 
by the horsemen, and afterward devoured by dogs. 
After these exploits, Jehu wrote to the governors of 
Samaria, who had seventy of Ahab's sons under their 
protection, desiring them to set one of the bravest of 
their princes upon the throne, and to make preparations 






1S# THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, 

for establishing his title ; but they rightly guessed the 
meaning of this message, and determined to sacrifice 
Ahab's descendants rather than incur the resentment of 
Jehu. Upon the intimation of this design, he com- 
manded them to send all the heads of the young princes 
to him, in baskets, by the next morning ; and, on re* 
ceiving the horrid present, he appeared at the gate of 
Jezreel, to remind the people of God's denunciation 
against the house of Ahab, and to justify his own pro- 
ceedings. 

Having taken ample vengeance on this impious fam- 
ily, together with their idolatrous priests and coun- 
sellors, Jehu set out on his journey to the metropolis ; 
and, in his way, met with forty two princes of the 
house of Judah, whom he immediately caused to be 
slain, and then invited Jehonadab to accompany him to 
Samaria, that he might witness his zeal for the restora- 
tion of his Maker's worship. 

On his arrival at Samaria he issued out a proclama- 
tion, whereby he commanded all the votaries of Baal to 
assemble at a solemn feast in honor of their idol, and at 
the same time enjoined the worshippers of the Lord to 
remain at home. The idolatrous multitude assembled 
with alacrity at the appointed time : but the temple was 
no sooner filled, than a detachment of soldiers massacred 
them without mercy, demolished their images and other 
ornaments, and appropriated the building to an use, 
which fixed a perpetual stigma on its former god. 

This zealous obedience to God's injunction, was fol- 
lowed by an assurance, that Jehu's posterity should 
sway the sceptre over Israel to the fourth generation : 
but the new king imprudently adopted many of Jero- 
boam's reprehensible practices, and permitted the gold- 



tROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. ICi 

en calves at Dan and Bethel to remain unmolested ; in 
consequence of which, Hazael was permitted to ravage 
his territories with unrelenting cruelty. He is said to 
have died after an unfortunate reign of twenty eight 
years, and to have been buried in the capital of his 
kingdom. 

Upon the demise of this prince, the sceptre devolved 
to his son Jehoahaz, who persisted in all the impious 
courses of his predecessors, and paid so little attention 
to the Divine commandments, that God chastised him 
severely by the hand of the Syrians ; and his actions* 
during a reign of seventeen years, were of so littJe im- 
portance, that the sacred historian has passed them over 
in silence. 

Jehoash ascended the throne upon his father's death* 
and took the earliest opportunity of visiting the prophet 
Elisha, who was then on his deathbed, and who assured 
him that he should gain three successive victories over 
the Syrians. Some time after this visit the king receiv- 
ed a defiance from Amaziah, who had received some 
injuries from a party of Israelitish troops during his 
expedition "against Edom. But the answer which he 
returned was couched in the most mortifying terms, un- 
der the allegory of a contemptible thistle, which having 
aspired to an alliance with the cedar, was crushed by 
the feet of a wild beast. Amaziah, however, resolved to 
give battle to his adversary ; but victory decided in fa- 
vour of Israel, and the men of Judah were obliged to 
ransom their unfortufiate prince at the expense of all 
the gold and silver that could be collected either in the 
temple or the royal treasury at Jerusalem. The victor 
then demolished a considerable part of their fortifica- 
tions, and returned triumphantly to Samaria. 

R 



182 THE KINGDOM 01* ISRAEL, 

B. C. About a twelvemonth after this splendid 
825 - achievement, Jehoash died, and left the gov- 
ernment to his son Jeroboam, who seemed ordained by 
Providence to restore the kingdom to its pristine splen- 
dor, and who was encouraged to that glorious work by 
the prophets Jonas and Hosea. Accordingly he fought 
with extraordinary success against the Syrians, made 
himself master of their capital, and diffused the terror 
of his name through all their territories. But though 
his reign was rendered peculiarly glorious by his bril- 
liant and numerous conquests, yet it is branded in the 
sacred history on account of the idolatries, luxury, ra- 
pine and injustice with which it abounded, and for 
which Amos, and other prophets were sent to denounce 
the most awful judgments against Israel, even to its to- 
tal dispersion. This prince swayed the sceptre forty 
one years, and at the expiration of that time he died, 
and was buried in the royal sepulchre at Samaria. 
B. C. After an interregnum of eleven years and a 
772. half, Zechariah, the great grandson of Jehu, as- 
cended the throne of Israel ; thus fulfilling the Divine 
prediction, that Jehu's family should enjoy the ki .<dom 
till the fourth generation; but from the accession of 
this prince we may date the downfall of Israei. as the 
subsequent history presents a melancholy spectacle of 
treasons, murders, atkl every spec.it s of anarchy. Zech- 
ariah had scarcely worn the crown six months before 
he was assassinated by ShalJam, the son of Jabes"), who 
seized the government, and, after a reign of thirty 
days, was himself murdered by Zechariah's general in 
the metropolis. 

Menahem, having dispatched this usurper, took the' 
administration into his own hands, and commenced his. 






FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO ITS DISSOLUTION. 183 

reign with an act of unparalelled cruelty : for the city of 
Tirzah having held out against him, he caused all the 
male inhabitants to be put to the sword, and exercised 
the most wanton barbarities upon the defenceless and 
unresisting females. He was soon after alarmed by the 
approach of an Assyrian army, and compelled to pur- 
chase a shameful peace at the rate of one thousand 
talents of silver. This circumstance seems to have 
cooled his martial enthusiasm, for no farther notice is 
taken of him till the time of his death, when the crown 
devolved to his son Pekahiah. 

Of the reign of Pekahiah we have no satisfactory 
account, except that he adhered to the idolatries of his 
predecessors, and that, after a short reign of two years, 
he was assassinated by one of his own generals, named 
Pekah, who seized on the vacant throne ; but whose 
nefarious practices entailed misery upon his people, and 
embittered his own reign with many calamities. He had 
the mortification to see one entire tribe torn away from 
him by a foreign power : and, notwithstanding his ex* 
traordinary success against the king of Judah, his do- 
minions were filled with discord and rebellion, and after 
a troublesome reign of twenty years, his life was ter- 
minated by assassination. 

Hoshea, the son of Elah, ascended the throne on the 
murder of his sovereign : but his government proved so 
disagreeable to the Israelites, that he found it a difficult 
task to establish himself in his ill acquired dignity. 
At the expiration of nine years, the public commotions 
began to subside ; and the king undertook to shake off 
the yoke of the Assyrians ; but this attempt involved 
both himself and his subjects in the most serious ca- 
lamities j for Shalmaneser, on the firsjt intimation of 



184 THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, &O. 

the purposed revolt, secured all the land of Moab ; rav» 
aged that of Israel with fire and sword ; and led his 
victorious forces to the very gates of Samaria. The king 
had fortified himself so well in the city, that near three 
years elapsed before the besiegers could effect their 
purpose, but at length the ill fated metropolis was tak- 
en and rased to the ground ; the most shocking cruel* 
ties were exercised upon the inhabitants without dis- 
tinction of age or sex ; and the unfortunate king, to- 
gether with his surviving subjects, were led into 
captivity by their merciless conquerors. 
B. c. Such was the punishment which the Israelites 
721. brought upon themselves by disobedience ta 
their God ; and such was the sad catastrophe of their 
kingdom, after it had existed two hundred and fifty 
fpur years from its foundation by Jeroboam, 



185 



CHAPTER VIIL 

The Kingdom cfJudah^from the accession of RehooQafii 
to its final Catastrophe undtr Zcdekiah. 

B. C. T> 

975. XVEHOBOAM finding it impracticable to 

reduce the revolted tribes to obedience, applied himself 
to the fortification of his greatest cities, and built sever- 
al considerable places in Judah and Benjamin ; all of 
which he secured with strong garrisons, and stored with 
arms and ammunition. 

By this method he began to acquire a considerable* 
reputation ; and the unexpected return of the Levites 
and many others who abhorred the idolatrous practice* 
of Jeroboam, tended greatly to augment his political im- 
portance : but he had scarcely reigned three years, be- 
fore he forsook the service of God, and degenerated into 
a worse idolater than his revolted rival. In conse- 
quence of this shameful apostacy, Shishak, king of 
Egypt, was permitted to reduce several of his strong 
places, and to chase his wealthiest subjects into the me- 
tropolis, which soon fell a prey to the hostile army. The 
conqueror, having stripped the temple and palaces of all 
their most valuable ornaments, retired triumphantly to 
his own dominions, and left the son of Solomon to be- 
wail the awful consequence of his impiety. Rehoboam 
reigned about twelve years after this disaster ; and, at 
the expiration of that time, left the crown to his son 
Abijarn. 

n2 



186 THE KINGDOM OF JUDAS^ 

B. C. The new monarch had no sooner assumed 
95S - the insignia of royalty, than he resolved to 
lead his forces against the king of Israel. Accordingly, 
the two armies met upon the borders of Ephraim ; and 
Abijam upbraided his competitor with the baseness of his 
extraction, and with his baser actions ; observing, that 
lie had unjustly deprived his master's son of the largest 
share of his kingdom, and had endeavoured to establish 
himself in his ill acquired dignity, by debauching the 
people from the worship of their Creator. Jeroboam, 
instead of acknowledging the justice of these remarks, 
caused a detachment to wheel round and surprise his 
enemy in the rear, whilst he himself should attack him 
in front. This base artifice threw the men of Judah 
into great confusion ; but they at length recovered 
themselves, and gained a victory, which proved pecu- 
liarly unfortunate to Jeroboam. 

On the demise of Abijam, the sceptre devolved to 
Asa, a prince of so religious a disposition, that he spent 
the first ten years of his reign in purging the kingdom 
from all idolatrous statues and ceremonies ; and even 
deposed his own mother, for causing a grove to be con- 
secrated to the worship of some heathen deity. He 
also made some admirable regulations in his army ; 
erected several fortresses in various parts of the land j 
and adorned the temple with a quantity of gold and sil- 
ver vessels, in lieu of those which had been carried off 
by the Egyptians. 

B. C. About fourteen years after his accession, his 

941- dominions were suddenly invaded by Zerah, 

the Ethiopian, with a numerous army of Cushites ; but 

victory declared on the side of justice ; and the invaders 

were defeated with prodigious slaughter. A consider- 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 187 

able portion of the booty was devoted to the service of 
God ; and the king had the satisfaction of seeing multi- 
tudes of discontented Israelites flock to his metropolis, 
with offers of future allegiance. Some time after this 
victory, Baasha formed a confederacy with the king of 
Syria, against Judah : but Asa contrived to dissolve this 
alliance, and prevailed on Benhadad, by magnificent 
presents, to turn his arms against the king of Israel. 
Toward the close of his reign, Asa appears to have been 
rendered fretful and impatient, by a violent distemper 
in his feet ; and to have exercised an unjust severity on 
several of his subjects. However, he died in peace, and 
his body was interred with the most magnificent solem- 
nity. 

B. C. Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, in the thirty 
914 - fifth year of his age, and gave the most con- 
vincing proofs of his zeal for the true Gcd, by pulling 
down all the groves and idols which had escaped the vig- 
ilance of his predecessor ; by causing a certain number 
of priests and Levites to intruct all his subjects in the 
law of Moses ; and by patronizing the worship of his 
Creator on every occasion. Nor was he less attentive 
to the political safety and happiness of his people : for 
he fortified all the frontier towns, and recent conquests ; 
maintained an army which consisted of a million valiant 
men ; and took such wise precautions for the support of 
his dignity, that the Arabians and Philistines voluntarily 
became his tributaries ; and most of the adjacent nations 
sought his friendship and alliance. Indeed, the greatest 
part of his reign was devo f ed to the administration of 
justice, the promotion of trade, and the abolition of idol- 
atry. He is blamed, however, by the sacred histoFJan^ 
for not totally destroying the high places, and for suffer- 



188 



THE KINGDOM OF JUt)AK, 



ing his son Jehoram to marry Athaliah) the ungodly 
daughter of Ahab. 

We have already noticed the visit which this prince 
paid to the king of Israel, and the result of the battle at 
Ramoth Gilead t it is, therefore, only necessary to add, 
that Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped the vengeance of 
the Syrians ; and was reproved by a prophet, in the se- 
verest terms, for having consented to assist on such an 
occasion. However, he soon retrieved his error, by a 
more strict application to the promotion of religion and 
the welfare of his people : and his pious zeal was so ac- 
ceptable to God, that when Judah was suddenly invad- 
ed by a prodigious multitude of Moabites, Ammonites, 
and other heathenish nations, Divine Providence ap- 
peared in so signal a manner on his behalf, that the in- 
vaders being seized with a kind of phrenzy, perished 
by their own swords, and their sumptuous spoils were 
carried in procession to Jerusalem ; while the air re- 
sounded with the harmony of musical instruments and 
the appropriate hyms of the Levites. Shortly after 
this event, Jehoshaphat breathed out his spirit into the 
hands of his Maker, and left the government to his 
son. 

B. G. Jehoram had no sooner ascended the throne, 
889. t han he began to introduce all the abominable 
superstitions which his pious fatherhadso carefully abro- 
gated ; thus bringing upon his own family all the curses 
that had been pronounced against that of his father in 
law ; and thus exposing a whole nation to the heavy 
^rath of God. However, his enormities'did not long re- 
main unpunished, for the Edomites and the inhabitants 
of Libnah soon shook off his yoke ; the Philistines and 
Arabians invaded his dominions) *nd despoiled his me- 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 189 

tropolis of all its riches; and the king himself was seized 
with a distemper of so terrible a nature, that his bowels 
came out, after an indisposition of two years, and he died 
in the extremity of agony. 

Ahaziah, the son and successor of this prince, suffer- 
ed himself to be guided entirely by the counsels of his 
idolatrous mother ; and consequently adopted all the 
wicked practices of his predecessor. His friendship 
was therefore sought by the king of Israel ; and he was 
easily persuaded to lend his assistance for the reduction 
of Ramoth Gilead : but that expedition proved fatal to 
liimself and his family ; for he was slain, by Jehu's ad-? 
herents, at the ascent of Mount Gur ; and forty two of 
his relations, who were going to pay a visit to the house 
of Ahab, shared a similar fate. 

This circumstance inflamed Athaliah with such a 
thirst of vengeance, and filled her mind with such ab- 
horrence both of the race and God of David, that she 
madly determined to exterminate the one and invalidate 
the promises of the other. However, whilst she was 
taking an ample revenge on the poor remains of the 
house of Judah, young Joash was providentially con- 
veyed to the temple, and educated with the utmost 
privacy till he was seven years old ; when Jehoiada, the 
high priest, resolved to produce him, in order to put a 
stop to the tyranny of the queen, and to convince the 
people that God had still preserved one branch of Da- 
vid's race from destruction. Accordingly, having con- 
veyed some of the elders of Judah into the temple, he 
presented the young prince to them, and conjured them 
to exert themselves valiantly in his defence. This un- 
expected discovery produced the desired effect ; and the 
elders used such dispatch, that in a few days they had 






190 THE KINGDOM OF JUBAH, 

a formidable array at their command ; the young mon- 
arch was solemnly crowned and anointed, amidst a nu- 
merous train of armed Levites ; and the temple resound- 
ed with acclamations of " Long live king Joash V 9 
Athaliah, alarmed at this noise, rushed into the priests' 
porch, and rent her garments in despair, at the spectacle 
which presented itself to her view : but she was imme- 
diately hurried out, and sentenced to expiate her nu- 
merous crimes by a violent death. 
B. C. This important revolution was immediately fol- 
878. lowed by a thorough reformation both in the civil 
and ecclesiastical afFairsof the kingdom; and the demoli- 
tion of all the temples, altars, and monuments which Atha- 
liah and herpredecessors had caused tobe erected. Stran- 
gers, apostates, and all unclean persons were also prohib- 
ited from appearing at the celebration of divine worship; 
and voluntary contributions were received for the pur- 
pose of repairing the dilapidations of the temple. The 
venerable high priest exerted himself on every occasion 
to augment the zeal of his prince and the felicity of his 
nation : but he had no sooner submitted to the mortal 
condition, than the base chiefs of Judah petitioned for 
the restoration of their old worship ; and new altars 
were immediately erected to the gods of the heathen. 

In consequence of this apostacy, several prophets 
were raised up, to rebuke the unthinking multitude ; and 
the high priest Zechariah boldly reproved both the king 
and his nobles : but all their remonstrances proved inef- 
fectual, and the pious son of Jehoiada was stoned to 
death, in the very court of the temple. However, these 
enormities did not long remain unpunished ; for Hazael, 
king of Syria, led a numerous army into Judea, which 
•oon pillaged the temple and metropolis of their choicest 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 191 

treasures ; and made a dreadful slaughter among 
those nobles who had been the first authors of the de- 
fection. Joash escaped the fate of his counsellors, by 
yielding his riches submissively to the invaders ; but 
he was, soon afterward, smitten with a sore disease, and 
was murdered by his own servants, in the fortieth year 
of his reign. 

Amaziah ascended the throne in the twenty fifth year 
of his age, and gave immediate orders for the execution 
of his father's murderers. The commencement of his 
reign was pious and equitable ; but in consequence of 
his extraordinary success against the Edomites, he was 
puffed up with pride, and became so fond of the idols 
which he had taken from his enemies, that he caused 
them to be set up in Judah, at his return ; and even 
presumed to utter some insolent menaces against a 
prophet whom God had commissioned to reprove him 
for his apostacy. This reprehensible conduct involved 
him in misery and disgrace ; and about fifteen years 
after the signal defeat which he received from the king 
of Israel, a conspiracy was formed which terminated in 
his assasination. 

B. C. Azariah succeeded to the crown on the death 
81& of hi 3 father ; and by the advice of an able pol- 
itician, named ZecharLth, he rendered "himself equally 
amiable to his subjects and terrible to his enemies. His 
piety, conquests, economical arrangements, and excel- 
lent institutions teBectfed the highest hretre on the na- 
tion ; while the di ctphne of his ar ny, and the strength 
of his fortifications, seemed to bid defiance 10 invasion ; 
but he unfortunately lost both his fame and dignity, by 
presuming to infringe upon the priestly office, and to 
burn incense upon the sacred altar. The high priest, 



192 THE KINGDOM OF JUDA8, 

with eighty other zealous ministers of the temple, re- 
monstrated, in the warmest manner, upon the impro- 
priety and danger of such ^an attempt ; but the infatu- 
ated prince persisted in his folly, till he was suddenly 
smitten with a leprosy, and consequently obliged to quit 
the city. Struck with remorse for his presumption, he 
resigned the crown to his son Jotham, and resided in a 
solitary house, without the gates of the city, till the 
sixty eighth year of his age, when he paid the debt of 
nature, and was buried in a sepulchre adjoining that 
of his ancestors. 

Jotham, the son and successor of Azariah, is repre- 
sented as a just and religious prince, who inherited all 
his father's virtues without any of his failings ; and 
who constantly kept in view the glory of his God and 
the happiness of his people. He gained some import- 
ant advantages over his enemies, during a glorious 
reign of sixteen years ; and expended a considerable 
sum on the metropolis and temple. 

On the demise of this illustrious character, the gov- 
ernment devolved upon his son Ahaz, whose impieties 
rendered his reign as unfortunate and contemptible as 
that of his father had been glorious and successful. He 
had scarcely established himself in his new dignity, be- 
fore he was thrown into the utmost consternation, by 
the sudden approach of the armies of Syria and Israel ; 
and expected nothing less than the final destruction of 
the Jewish monarchy. But the prophet Isaiah was sent 
to assure him, that his fears were groundless,\ind that 
the confederate princes should try their strength ih 
vain against Jerusalem. 

Notwithstanding the visible interposition of heaven 
upon this occasion, Ahaz acted with the basest ingrati- 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REttOBOAM. li)C> 

tude toward his God, and even exceeded the worst of 
his predecessors in idolatry and profaneness ; in con- 
Sequence of which, the king of Israel was permitted to 
tnassacre a hundred and twenty thousand of his sub- 
jects,* besides his son Maseiah, and many of his no- 
bles ; whilst the Edomites and Philistines ravaged 
other parts of the country, reduced several frontier 
towns, and carried a prodigious number of the inhabit- 
ants into captivity. 

In this exigence, Ahaz prevailed on the king of As- 
syria, by magnificent presents, to make a diversion in 
his favour ; but as he still persisted in his transgres- 
sions, and even caused the holy temple to be defiled 
with an idolatrous altar, his affairs continued in a state 
of distraction till the time of his death, and his fame 
was so effectually tarnished by impiety, that the elders 
of Judah refused to deposit his body in the sepulchre of 
David. 

The darkness which had overspread the nation dur- 
ing the sixteen years of this prince's reign, was effectu- 
tually dispersed at the accession of his son Hezekiah, 
and the worship of God was solemnly restored amidst 
the acclamations of the true worshippers. The temple, 
Which had been for some time shut up, was opened 
fyith the most magnificent solemnity ; circular letters 
tvere sent to every part of the kingdom, inviting all the 
inhabitants to assemble at the ensuing Passover ; ima- 
ges, altars, and other idolatrous monuments, were de- 
molished in every part of Jerusalem ; the several 

* The Israelites had also taken two hundred thousand cap- 
tives, whom they were leading to Samaria : but at the insti- 
gation of the prophet Obed, they sent them back to Jerusa- 
lem, with some marks of compassion and humanity, 
s 



Jb94 THE KINGDOM CF JUDAK, 

classes of priests, Levites, and musicians, were regulat- 
ed according to the institution of David ; and various 
other arrangements were made, which tended to dis- 
countenance vice, and to encourage the practice of pi- 
ety. This vigorous conduct on the part of Hezekiah 
was soon followed by the happiest consequences ; for 
the metropolis was crowded with worshippers, not only 
from various parts of Judah, but also from the king- 
dom of Israel ; the feast of the Passover was celebrat- 
ed with extraordinary pomp ; and the congregation 
were inflamed with such zeal for the God of their fa- 
thers, that even the brazen serpent, which Moses had 
set up in the wilderness, was broken to pieces as an 
.object of idolatry. 

In consequence of his attention to the worship of his 
Creator, and the administration of justice, Hezekiah 
was blessed with such abundant prosperity, that he was 
soon enabled to attack the Philistines, and to recover 
all the places which they had wrested from his prede- 
cessor. Elated with this success, he resolved to assert 
his independence, and accordingly refused to pay the 
customary tribute to Assyria : but this attempt drew 
upon himself so formidable an invasion, that he was 
obliged to send a submissive message to Sennacherib, 
acknowledging his error, and promising to submit to 
such terms as he might choose to impose. This expe- 
dient, accompanied with some magnificent presents* 
induced the invader to retire, without inflicting any 
other penalty than an annual tribute of three hundred 
talents of silver, and thirty of gold. 

The peace thus dearly purchased, was soon violated 
by the Assyrian monarch ; who not only sent a power- 
ful army into Judea, but even commanded his generals, 
Rabsaris, Tartan> and Rabshakeh, to lay close siege 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 195 

to Jerusalem, and to reduce the inhabitants to the ut- 
most extremities, unless they yielded themselves prison- 
ers of war. In this emergency, Hezekiah fortified the 
metropolis ; laid in an ample store of provision, arms, 
and ammunition ; caused the course of the brook Gi- 
hon to be turned, in order to distress the enemy for wa- 
ter ; and earnestly exhorted his subjects to rely upon 
Divine Providence, instead of suffering themselves to be 
dismayed by the strength or number of the besiegers. 

Whilst the requisite preparations were making in the 
city, Hezekiah was seized with a dangerous indisposi- 
tion, and exhorted, by the prophet Isaiah, to prepare 
himself for death. However, on the king's addressing 
himself in fervent prayer to God, this dispensation of 
Providence was set aside for fifteen years, and the Deity 
vouchsafed to declare, that Jerusalem should be surely 
delivered from her formidable enemies. Asa confirma- 
tion of these important promises, the sun's shadow was 
permitted to return backwards ten degrees, upon the 
dial of Ahaz ; and at the expiration of three days, Hez- 
ekiah was happily blest with convalescence. 

The generals of the Assyrian army now presented 
themselves bofore the walls, and demanded a parley with 
the ministers of Hezekiah ; who, accordingly, appeared 
on the battlements, attended by a multitude of people. 
Rabshakeh then addressed them in an insolent speech, 
filled with the most bitter invectives, not only against 
the king, but the God of Judah. This address, accom- 
panied with the most dreadful menaces was well calcu- 
lated to terrify the besieged, and was accordingly suc- 
ceeded by a deep silence ;' but the haughty invaders 
were suddenly compelled to march into their owa 



19$ THE KINGBOM OF JUBA1T, 

country, in order to repress an irruption of the Ethio* 
pians. 

This circumstance, however, gave but little comfort to 
the men of Judah ; for Sennacherib sent a letter to Heze- 
kiah, assuringhim that if he still refused tosubmit tocap- 
tivity his metropolis should soon be reduced by a more 
powerful army than had hitherto appeared in Judea ; and 
he should have cause to repent his confidence in a God 
who would prove as impotent as the gods of all other na- 
tions had proved against the terror of the Assyrian arms. 
The king had no sooner perused this threatening epistle, 
than he went to the temple, and spread it out before 
his Maker, earnestly imploring him to accomplish his 
late gracious promise, and to vindicate his honor against 
a wretch who had audaciously numbered him among 
the heathen idols. Accordingly the prophet Isaiah was 
commissioned to assert, that God would espouse the 
cause of his people, and that the proud Assyrian should 
be soon compelled to retire to his own dominions* 
where he should receive the due reward of his impiety. 

Sennacherib, having gained a decisive victory over the 
Ethiopians, returned to execute his threatened vengeance 
upon Jerusalem : but before he had opened a single 
trench, or discharged one arrow, God sent a destroying 
angel into his camp, who, in one night, destroyed a, 
hundred and eighty five thousand of his bravest soldiers. 
This unexpected judgment alarmed the proud monarch 
so effectually, that he immediately returned to his cap* 
ital, where he was, soon afterward, assassinated by his 
own sons. 

Hezekiah appears to have been elated with this deliv- 
erance, beyond the bounds of prudence ; for he soon afc 
terward made an ostentatious display of his wealth te to 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM, j 97 

some ambassadors whom Msrodach Baladan had sent 
to congratulate him upon his success, and to make some 
inquiries concerning the recent prodigy of the sun's re- 
trogression. This rash action was so displeasing to 
God, that the prophet Isaiah was immediately charged 
with a heavy denunciation, importing that those very 
Babylonians who had been entertained with a sight of 
all the royal treasures, should, in a short time, return to 
plunder the kingdom, and to carry the king's descend- 
ants captive to Babylon. This sentence had such an 
effect upon the royal offender, that he readily acknowl- 
edged his error, and expressed his gratitude for that 
Divine mercy which permitted him to close his eyes in 
peace. After a pious reign of twenty nine years, Hez- 
ekiah died in full possession of his people's love, and his 
obsequies were performed with a magnificence suitable 
to his illustrious character. 

B. C. Manasseh was but twelve years of age when 
698 - he succeeded his father in the government ; 
but the very commencement of his reign was a tissue 
of cruelty, sacrilege and profligacy, and he soon acquir- 
ed the character of an infamous and sanguinary tyrant. 
Not contented with restoring the worship of Baal, of- 
fering incense to the host of heaven, and commanding 
his subjects to sacrifice their unoffending babes to the 
detestable idol Moloch, he introduced the vilest cere- 
monies into the temple, and even erected " a graven 
image of the grove," in the most holy place, as if he 
had resolved to drive the God of Judah from his hab- 
itation, and to disclaim all the gracious promises that 
had been given, on various occasions, to Abraham and 

his descendants. 

s 2 



198 THE KINGDOM OF JUDAB, 

These enormities were boldly reproved by several 
of the prophets, and the most awful denunciations of 
Divine wrath were frequently uttered against their 
abandoned author : but instead of effecting the desired 
purpose, the government became more severe, the true 
worshippers were exposed to the most cruel persecu- 
tion, and the metropolis was converted into a scene of 
carnage and distraction : the most horrid butcheries 
were committed every day, and prophets, priests and 
nobles were cut off without discrimination, till the Deity 
was at length provoked to deliver the tyrant into the 
hands of the Assyrians, who carried him in chains to 
Babylon, and threw him into a dungeon. 

In this pitiable situation, the Jewish monarch began to 
reflect on his transgressions ; and the remembrance of 
his enormities produced such a genuine repentance in 
his breast, that his sighs and prayers obtained forgive- 
ness from that God whom he had so often insulted. 
The period of his imprisonment, and the means of his 
liberation are passed over in silence by the inspired his- 
torian : but it appears that his heart was effectually 
changed, and that he took the earliest opportunity of 
redressing all grievances in his kingdom, by cleans- 
ing the temple, demolishing the heathenish statues and 
altars, restoring the ancient service, and repairing the 
fortifications of the city. He seems to have enjoyed 
the regal dignity about thirty three years after his 
return from Babylon ; and is said to have died, peace- 
ably, in the sixty seventh year of his age. His body, 
however, was interred in his own garden, as his former 
crimes had rendered him unworthy of the royal sep- 
ulchre. 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 199 

B. C. At the period of this monarch's death, the 

643. worship of God was performed with equal pu- 
rity and splendor, and the generality of the people had 
shaken off the practice of idolatry ; but Amon, the suc- 
ceeding prince, abandoned himself to all the impieties 
of the heathen, and gave some convincing proofs that 
he designed to overturn all the recent regulations which 
had been made by his father. He was taken off, how- 
ever, by assassination, before he had reigned two years, 
and the crown devolved upon his son Josiah. 

The gross depravity which had infected the men of 
Judah, during the short reign of Amon, was so univer- 
sal, that it required nothing less than a miracle to re- 
form it. But Josiah had been promised, above three 
hundred years before, to effect a complete reformation ; 
and his conduct verified the inspired prediction. 

In the sixteenth year of his age, this amiable prince 
issued out orders for the demolition of all idolatrous 
statues and altars, and the pollution of every place that 
had been consecrated to the gods of the heathen. The 
graven images, vessels, chariots, and other objects of su- 
perstition, were accordingly burnt to ashes, and strewed 
over the graves of their votaries ; and those that could 
not be destroyed by fire, were thrown, with every mark 
of contempt, into the river Kidron. 

These abominations being removed from Jerusalem, 
the Mount of Olives, and the valley of Hinnom, the 
king proceeded to Bethel ; and destroyed the golden 
calf, which had been erected by Jeroboam, together with 
the groves, idols and altars. The bodies of the idola- 
trous priests were also dug up and burnt ; but a partic- 
ular regard was paid to the ashes uf the prophet who 
had denounced to Jeroboam that destruction of idolatry 



200 th£ kingdom of judxit, 

which Josiah was now fulfilling. In short, the new 
sovereign made a circuit through all the cities of Israel 
and Judah, and returned to his capital with the match- 
less satisfaction of having restored the worship of God 
in both kingdoms. He then caused the dilapidations of 
the temple to be repaired ; enjoined his subjects to cel- 
ebrate the Passover with becoming solemnity ; banish- 
ed all wizards and necromancers from his dominions ; 
instituted courts of justice in various parts of the land ; 
and charged the magistrates, priests and Levites to en- 
force obedience, on all occasions, to the law of Moses. 

Notwithstanding these excellent regulations, and the 
ardent zeal of the young monarch for the honor of the 
holy religion, the majority of the people were still idol- 
aters in their hearts ; and gave such frequent proofs of 
the reluctance witrAvvhich they obeyed the royal man- 
dates, that God commissioned the prophet Zephaniah, 
and the prophetess Huidah, to predict the total destruc- 
tion of their temple and kingdom ; and, at the same 
time, resolved to take the pious prince from the world, 
that his eyes might not be shocked with the dreadful 
retribution of his people's crimes. 
■q q In the thirty first year of this reign, Pharaoh 

610. Necho, king of Egypt, advanced against the 
Babylonians as far as Carchemish, in the vicinage of 
the Euphrates ; and the king of Judah led out a numer- 
ous army to oppose his progress. The two monarchs 
came within sight of each other at the valley of Me- 
giddo, and Pharaoh solemnly assured his opponent, that 
he had no hostile design either against him or his do- 
minions : but Josiah persisted in his resolution of giving 
battle, and, accordingly received a wound which termi- 
nated his mortal existence, in the thirty ninth year of 
his age. His remains were interred at Jerusalem* 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 201 

amidst the lamentations of all his good subjects, and sev- 
eral learned men have supposed that the " Lamentations 
of Jeremiah" were written in consequence of his death. 

Josiah had no sooner received the rites of sepulture, 
than his youngest son Jehoahaz, was seated upon the 
throne, by a powerful faction ; but his impieties and 
profligacy were so provoking to the Almighty, that Jer- 
emiah was sent to threaten him with a severe punish- 
ment ; and, at the expiration of three months, he was 
dethroned by Pharaoh Necho, and carried, with many 
other captives, into Egypt. 

Jehoiakim was permitted to ascend the vacant throne, 
on condition of paying an annual tribute to Egypt ; but, 
instead of humbling himself before God, or attempting 
to reform the manners of his people, he adopted all the 
reprehensible practices of his unfortunate brother, and 
consequently brought down new calamities upon his 
distracted kingdom. The prophet Jeremiah exerted 
himself, on various occasions, to convince the impious- 
monarch and his subjects of the danger to which they 
exposed themselves ; but he was thrown into prison for 
presuming to condemn their conduct ; and the denunci- 
ations of Divine vengeance which he had been com- 
manded to write in a roll, were contemptuously burnt 
in the royal apartment. The most horrid cruelties 
were also perpetrated under the eye of government i 
the administration of justice was shamefully perverted \ 
and even the magnificence of the court resulted from 
violence and oppression. For these enormities, Jere- 
miah was commanded to assert, that the king should 
be delivered into the hands of his most formidable ene- 
my, that he should die unpitied, and that his body should 
be exposed tp rot upon the ground, 



$02 TEE KINGDOM OF JUDA% 

This tremendous prediction was soon accomplished p- 
for Nebuchadnezzar, having defeated the Egyptians at 
Carcbemisli, led his victorious army against Jerusalem* 
which was pillaged of all its treasures, and involved in 
the most dreadful calamities. Jehoiakim was permitted 
to retain the sceptre, in consequence of his humble sub- 
missions and promise of a regular tribute ; but at the end 
of three years he violated his engagement, and incurred 
the heaviest effects of Nebuchadnezzar's vengeance ;for 
Judea was immediately ravaged by a fresh army ; the 
metropolis was again converted into a scene of slaugh- 
ter ; upwards, of three thousand individuals were drag- 
ged into captivity ; and the murdered body of their 
prince was left unburied without the gates of Jerusalem. 
B. c. Jehoiachin succeeded his father in the govern-- 

599. me nt ; but his actions were so ( ispleasing to 
the Deity, that the sceptre was wrested from his hands 
in less than three months, by the king of Babylon, who 
sent him and his whole court into captivity ; rifled the 
temple, palaces, and treasury, a second time ; and 
transported eleven thousand soldiers and artificers into 
his own dominions, leaving the dregs of the people un- 
der the government of Mattaniah, the uncle of Jehoia- 
chin, whose name w T as now changed to Zedekiah. 

The new monarch continued faithful to Babylon for 
several years, and by that means preserved the regal 
dignity ; but being, at length, persuaded to join the 
Moabites, Ammonites, and other nations, in a revolt 
against Nebuchadnezzar, he hastened the punishment 
of his own crimes, and the dissolution of his kingdom, 
When the enemy had ravaged the greatest part of Ju- 
dea ? reduced his strongest fortresses, and laid clc?:? 



FROM THE ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM. 203 

siege to his capital, this infatuated prince perceived the 
fatal consequence of his imprudence, and sent to con- 
sult the prophet Jeremiah, whose advice he had hither* 
to treated with unparalelled contempt. His fears were, 
for some time, removed, by a diversion which Pharaoh 
Hophra made in his favour ; but Nebuchadnezzar soon 
returned with augmented fury, and the city was involv- 
ed in the united calamities of war and famine. In this 
exigence Jeremiah exhorted the king to submit to his 
resistless invaders ; but, instead of following this ad- 
vice, he attempted to make his escape, by night, with 
all his guards and nobles, and was immediately taken 
by the enemy. Nebuchadnezzar, hearing of this cir- 
cumstance, caused all the children of this unhappy mon- 
arch to be butchered in his presence, and then ordered 
his eyes to be put out, that no other object might oblh> 
erate the recollection of that tragical scene. 

The Jewish metropolis held out, for two years and a 
half, against the most strenuous exertions of the enemy, 
and the effects of a dreadful famine ; but at the expira- 
tion of that time it was reduced, and despoiled of all 
its riches ; the temple of Solomon was reduced to ashes; 
the fortifications were demolished ; and most of the 
buildings were rased to the ground ; while the wretched 
Zedekiah and the majority of his surviving subjects 
were led away, captive, into Babylon. The prophet 
Jeremiah, however, escaped the general fate, and ob- 
tained permission to reside with Gedaliah, whom the 
Chaldean monarch left as governor over the miserable 
remnant of the Jews in Palestine. 

Thus were the repeated denunciations of God's ven- 
geance accomplished ou a disobedient and idolatrous 



£04 THE KINGDOM OF JUDAH, &C. 

people ; and thus was the Jewish monarchy subverted} 
after it had stood three hundred and eighty eight years 
from the accession of Rehoboam, and one hundred and 
thirty four years from the destruction of Samaria by the 
Assyrians. 



305 



CHAPTER IX. 



Prom the return of the Jews out of Babylon^ to the death 
of Nehemiah, 

B.C. A 

536. -TxFTER the Jews had bewailed their trans- 
gressions, in a captivity of seventy years duration, as 
had been foretold by the prophet Jeremiah, Cyrus the 
Great issued out a decree by which they were permit- 
ted to return to their own country ; and to rebuild the 
edifice which God had vouchsafed to honour with his 
immediate presence, till reiterated defections had called 
down his vengeance upon the ungrateful sons of Abra- 
ham. The sacred utensils, which had been taken 
away by Nebuchadnezzar, were also delivered to one 
of the Hebrew chiefs, and those Jews who wished to 
remain in their new habitations, were permitted to con- 
tribute, as liberally as they pleased, to the necessities of 
their brethren, and the restoration of their ancient 
worship. 

Upon the promulgation of this edict, the chiefs of 
Judah and Benjamin assembled together with the Le- 
vites, priests, and all who retained a zeal for the God 
of their progenitors, and made preparations for their 
journey ; while the rest of their brethren declined the 
expedition, and contented themselves with making con- 
tributions of gold, silver, and other materials, for the 
erection or embellishment of the city and temple. 

T 



206 FROM THE RETURN OUT OF BABYLON, 

The number of those who returned to Judea, under 
the conduct of Zerubbabel, a prince of the royal blood, 
and Jeshua the high priest, amounted to forty nine 
thousand eight hundred and ninety seven individuals, 
including seven thousand three hundred and thii ty sev- 
en servants of both sexes, and two hundred male and 
Female singers. This, however, was but a small pro- 
portion of the Jewish captives, and the love of their coun- 
try was so far forgotten by the majority, that only four 
of the sacerdotal classes consented to quit the domin- 
ions of their oppressors. 

On their arrival at the ruined city of David, the 
priests subdivided themselves in such a manner as to 
make up their original number of classes ; the Levites, 
and other officers of the temple, took up their abode 
either in or near Jerusalem, that they might be at hand 
to assist in the arrangement or restoration of holy 
things ; and the rest of the people employed themselves 
in searching for their brethren, whom the Babylonian 
conquerors had left to cultivate the adjacent country. 

On the first day of the month Tishri, the new year 
was solemnly proclaimed by sound of trumpet, and was 
followed by two other great solemnities, namely, the 
grand fast of expiation, which was to be observed on the 
tenth, and the feast of tabernacles which began on the 
fifteenth, and continued till the twenty second of the 
same month. 

At the last of these'solemnities it was unanimously re- 
solved to begin the important task of rebuilding the 
temple ; and a contribution was immediately made, 
which amounted to seventy five thousand five hundred 
pounds, besides a hundred costly vestments for the use 
of the priests. Cedar and other timber were also pro- 
cured from Libanus and Tyre, and workmen were hired 



TO THE DEATH OF NEHEMIAH. 20/ 

from various parts to prepare the materials for the 
building. 
B. c. In the second month of the ensuing year, the 
534 * foundation of the temple was laid in the pres- 
ence of Zeruhbabel, Jeshua, and the whole congregation* 
This ceremony was accompanied with vocal and in- 
strumental music, and the air resounded with triumph- 
ant acclamations : but whilst the younger part of the 
assembly uttered these expressions of rapturous delight, 
many of the senior priests and Levites who had seen 
the sumptuous edifice that was destroyed by the Chal- 
deans, could not forbear uttering many bitter lamenta- 
tions when they considered the inferiority of the present 
design ; so that the groans of one party, and the accla- 
mations of the other, could not easily be distinguished. 
Whilst this great work was carrying on, the Samari- 
tans, who had been sent from Cuthath to repeople their 
native land, expressed an earnest desire to assist in 
completing the building ; but, the Jews having declined 
t,his proposal, they laid aside the mask of friendship and 
sought, upon every occasion, to distress and vilify their 
new neighbours. In consequence of their malicious 
suggestions, Cyrus began to look upon the Jews with an 
eye of jealousy, and the decree which had been issued 
out in their favour was suspended, during the residue 
of his reign and that of his successor. At the decease 
of Cambyses, fresh complaints were carried to the court 
of Persia ; and the building of the temple which had 
been hitherto carried on amidst numerous insults and 
obstructions, was totally stopped. However, on the 
death of the usurper, the people were inspired with 
fresh ardor by the prophet Haggai, and the sacred struc- 
ture began to rise apace in spite of every opposition. 



208 FROM THE RETURN OUT OF BABYLON, 

The Samaritans, exasperated at this circumstance* 
applied to Tatnai, governor of Syria and Palestine* 
warning him of the danger that might result from the 
restoration of a city which had frequently given just 
cause of alarm to the surrounding nations. Hereupon 
Tatnai repaired to Jerusalem, and demanded by what 
authority the work was carried on ; but the answers 
which he received, effectually calmed his apprehen- 
sions ; and a new decree was, soon afterward, promul- 
gated by Darius, which not only ratified the grants that 
had been made by Cyrus, but also threatened all per- 
sons who should presume to obstruct it, with the heav- 
iest pains and penalties. 

The Jews, being now delivered from their enemies, 
and receiving a considerable bounty from the royal 
treasury, laboured with such alacrity and expedition, 
that their temple was finished in the sixth year of Da- 
rius ; and the dedication was performed, in the month 
Adar, with all imaginable splendor and solemnity. 

The Samaritans were so highly exasperated at the 
edict which enjoined them to pay a certain quota toward 
the rebuilding of the temple, and the diurnal sacrifices 
that were to be offered for the prosperity of the king 
and his dominions, that they took an early opportunity 
of withholding their tribute, on pretence that it was to 
cease as soon as the sacred edifice was finished. But 
Darius, having received a deputation from Jerusalem, 
issued out a fresh decree which confounded the malice 
of the Samaritans, and incapacitated them from giving 
further disturbance to the objects of Divine favour. 

From this time the Jews enjoyed a profound peace 
under their royal patron, and under the reign of his 
successor : being governed by their own high priests 



TO, THE DEATH OF VEHEMIAH. 209 

in matters of religion ; and in affairs of state by princes 
of the house of Judah, who were, however, subject to 
the king of Persia, and subordinate to his governors on 
this side the Euphrates. 

In the reign of Artaxerxes, or Ahasuerus, the bus* 
band of Esther,* a learned Jew, named Ezra, obtained 
an ample commission to return to Judea with as many 
of his countrymen as were desirous of accompanying 
him ; and to make all needful regulations in the civil 
and ecclesiastical concerns at Jerusalem. The zealous 
descendant of Aaron gladly embraced so favourable ar> 
opportunity ; and, having assembled about two hundred 
and twenty Nethinims, with some priests and Levites, 
he implored the Divine blessing by fasting and prayer, 
and set out on his return to the holy city. 

On his arrival at Jerusalem, he opened his commis- 
sion before the Jewish congregation, and delivered into 
tbe hands of the priests, several offerings which had 
been made by the Persian monarch and his nobles. 

* Esther was a beautiful orphan of the tribe of Benjamin, 
brought up and adopted by her uncle Mordecai ; who, by his 
constant attendance at the palace gate, seems to have been one 
of the king's porters, and who had found means to introduce 
his niece into the palace among other virgins that were de- 
signed as candidates to succeed the late queen of Persia. This 
damsel capitivated the king so effectually, even before he hacL 
placed the diadem upon her head, that she prevented the 
massacre of her countrymen, which had been contrived by the 
malicious Haman, and turned the impending calamity upon 
the head of its wicked author. Her uncle, having detected a 
conspiracy against the king's life, was also elevated to the 
summit of grandeur, and carried in procession round the royal 
city ; and it is supposed that queen Esther obtained the com- 
mission, by virtue of which Ezra paid so beneficial a visit tQ 
Jerusalem. 

t2 



210 FROM THE RETURN OUT OF BABYLON, 

He then sent to apprize the governor of Syria and Pa- 
lestine of the power he had received from the king ; 
and immediately applied himself to the discharge of his 
duty, by appointing judges who might try and punish 
all who presumed to offend against the Mosaic law ; by 
setting forth a correctlSdition of the sacred books ; by 
revising the Jewish liturgy ; and restoring the wor- 
ship of the temple to its original purity. He is also sup- 
posed to have changed the old Hebrew character for 
the more beautiful Chaldee, and to have appended such 
matter to the sacred history as was requisite for the ex- 
planation or perfecting of the original text. He gov- 
erned the Jewish church and state, for the space of thir- 
teen years, with equal honor and integrity ; and breath- 
ed out his spirit into the hands of his Maker, in the 
hundred and twentieth year of his age. 
B. C. Nehemiah, a Jew of great learning and piety, 
445. w ho had been promoted to the office of cup 
bearer at the court of Persia, obtained a commission to 
succeed Ezra* in the government of Jerusalem, and to 
make such repairs or alterations in the city and temple 
as should be deemed requisite. Accordingly he pro- 
ceeded with all possible expedition to Jerusalem, and 
finding both the house of God and the fortifications in a 
dilapidated condition, he assembled the elders of the 
people, and informed them of the power he had received 
from the Persian monarch. He then gave directions for 
the rebuilding of the city wall, and attended the la- 
bourers so closely, that their important task was com- 
pleted in little more than seven weeks, notwithstanding 

* Nehemiah appears to have visited Judea in the time of 
Ezra ; but we have given their transactions separately, the 
better to preserve the thread of the history. 



TO THE DEATH OF NEHEMIAH. 211 

the discouragements they received from the Samaritans* 
and an opposition which eventually compelled them to 
take up arms in their own defence. 

While this work was carrying on, Nehemiah was 
apprized of many acts of cruelty, which had been prac- 
tised, before his arrival, on the poorer classes of the 
people ; insomuch that those who now bore the greatest 
share of the labor had been driven to the sad necessity 
of mortgaging their lands, selling their children, and 
submitting to many other hardships. Hereupon he 
reproached the Jewish rulers for their inhumanity and 
coveteousness ; and exerted himself with such extraor- 
dinary zeal on behalf of the oppressed, that their com- 
plaints were hushed to silence, and the Samaritans 
beheld with unspeakable regret the dedication of the 
new wall, and the augmenting felicity of the citizens. 

Hitherto the city of David remained but thinly peo- 
pled, as the majority of the Jews who had returned from 
Persia had taken up their residence in the circumjacent 
country. Nehemiah, therefore, prevailed on the noble 
and opulent, to build themselves houses within the walls, 
in order to elude the thieves and banditti who infested 
other parts of Judea ; he next gave a general invitation 
for all to settle there who should approve of the situa- 
tion ; and finally took every tenth family by lot ; so 
that the city, being thoroughly repaired and peopled, 
began to resume something of its original splendor. 
Having made these necessary arrangements for the 
safety of Jerusalem, Nehemiah next applied himself to 
the regulation of the people, from whom he extorted a 
general confession of their transgressions, and a solemn 
vow to rectify whatever was amiss in future, particularly 
respecting intermarriages, the observation of sabbaths 



212 FROM TM RETURN OUT OF 3ABS*tOKr, 

and sabattic years, the annual tribute for the repairs and 
support of the temple ; and the punctual payment of 
tythes, first fruits, &c. for the maintenance of the 
Levites. This solemnly concluded with a general con- 
tribution for the service of the temple, in -which the 
governor himself gave five hundred and thirty two 
priestly vestments, fifty dishes, and a thousand drachms 
of gold. He then returned into Persia, according to 
promise, after administering justice to his country mea 
for the space of twelve years. 

The exemplary conduct of this personage might have 
naturally produced much pious emulation among a 
people who were not only the objects of God's peculiar 
favor, but who had seen such tremendous chastisements 
inflicted upon the impenitent. But such was the apti- 
tude of the Jews to vice and profligacy, that during 
their governor's absence, which lasted but five years, 
they had degenerated so shamefully from his precepts, 
as even to defile their temple, to neglect the perform- 
ance of their most important ceremonies, and to profane 
the sabbath, by threshing their corn, exposing their 
mercantile wares to sale, and bartering with foreigners, 
in open contempt of Haggai, Malachi and Zechariah, 
whom God had commanded to remonstrate on the ab- 
surdity of their behaviour. On Nehemiah's return, 
however, these scandalous abuses were corrected ; the 
public worship was restored to its pristine purity and 
regularity ; and frequent lectures were given out of the 
Holy Scriptures both in Jerusalem, and all the other 
towns of Judea. 

The length of Nehemiah's life after this important 
reformation, and the place of his sepulture are equally 
y#known : but Josephus informs U£ that be died in m 



TO THE DEATH OF NEHEMIAH. 213 

advanced age ; and we are assured, by the sacred histo- 
rian, that his character was rendered truly illustrious 
by his zeal for religion ; and that the dignity of his 
office was admirably supported by his princely munifi- 
cence and hospitality. 

After his death the government of Judea was joined 
to the prefecture of Syria, from which the high priests 
received their authority. A circumstance which in- 
duced many persons to aspire to the sacerdotal dignity 
through motives of ambition, and which consequently* 
involved the Jewish nation in many calamities, 



3- 14, 



CHAPTER X. 



Continuation of the Jewish affairs, fropi the. end, of ins 
Old Testament, to the Birth of our Saviour, 



A* 



kS we can gather no farther information from the 
canonical books, respecting the affairs of Judea,from the 
demise of Nehemiah till the birth of Christ, we must 
necessarily fill up the chasm between the Old and the 
New Testament, from the books of the Maccabees, and 
the justly admired works of Dr. Prideaux, and Josephus, 
And from these sources we hope to draw such a con- 
tinuation of events, as may give our juvenile readers a 
connected and perspicuous view of the sacred history. 
B. c. About thirty four years after the accession of 
373. Artaxerxes Mnemon to the throne of Persia, 
an unfortunate dispute arose, at Jerusalem, between the 
high priest, Johanan, and his brother Jeshua, respecting 
the sacerdotal dignity,* and Johanan in attempting to 
thrust his opponent out of the temple, gave him a mor- 
tal wound. In consequence of this accident, Bagoses, 
the governor of Syria, upbraided the Jews with defiling 
the temple of their God ; and, having forcibly entered 
into the inner court, imposed a heavy fine upon the 
priests. 

* Bagoses seems to have promised Jeshua a grant of the 
high priesthood some years after Johanan's investiture ; and 
it was in attempting to take possession of the pontifical office 
that Jeshua lost his life. 



FROM THE END OF TKE OLD TEST AM'Etfly&C. 215 

-B. C. Shortly after the death of Artaxerxes, a heavy 
551 - chastisement was inflicted on the Jews by the 
hands of Ochus, who, having reduced the greatest part 
of Phrenke, led a numerous army into Judea ; took the 
city of Jericho by assault ; and carried off a considerable 
number of the inhabitants, some of whom he sent into 
Egypt, and others to Hyrcania on the Caspian sea. 
About ten years after this event, Johanan was suc- 
ceeded, in the high priesthood, by his son Jaddua ; and 
the Persian diadem devolved, soon afterward, upon 
Darius Codom annus. 

The Jews gave an extraordinary proof of their loyalty 
toward this prince, in the fourth year of his reign ; for 
they positively refused to assist Alexander the Great, 
in the siege of Tyre, and resolutely withheld a supply of 
provisions which he had demanded for his army. The 
Macedonian hero was so highly incensed at this conduct, 
that lie took the earliest opportunity of leading his vic- 
torious troops against Jerusalem : but, being received 
by a number of priests in their sacerdotal robes, and 
being likewise struck with a solemn procession of the 
inhabitants, he laid aside his purposed revenge ; caused 
a considerable number of victims to be offered to the 
God of Israel ; and indulged the Jews with many 
privileges and immunities. 

The impression of a dream,* and the prophecies of 
Daniel, which had been shown to him by the high priest, 
induced Alexander to settle a great number of Jews 
in his new city, which was called after his own name, 

* Alexander declared that, during his abode in Macedonia 
he had seen the Jewish high priest, in a vision of the night/ 
encouraging him to pursue his expedition against the Persians, 
and assuring him of complete success. 



216 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

Alexandria ; where they received permission to worship 
God after their own mode, and to claim ah equal share 
of all the franchises and liberties that were enjoyed by 
the Macedonians. Many of them had, indeed^ nearly 
lost his favour, by refusing to assist at the rebuilding of 
an idolatrous temple : but he was, at length, convinced 
of the rectitude of their conduct, and therefore, sent 
them back into their native land. 

Upon the demise of this celebrated warrior, his empire 
was divided among four of his generals ; and Judea, 
being situate between Egypt and Syria, became subject 
to all the wars and revolutions that attended such a 
partition of territory. It was, at first given, together 
with Syria and Phcenice, to Leomedon the Mitylenian ; 
but afterward wrested from him, and invaded by Ptole- 
my Soter, who made himelf master of Jerusalem on a 
sabbath day, and carried nearly a hundred thousand 
persons captive into Egypt. However, in considera- 
tion of the loyalty which they had evinced toward their 
former conquerors, he intrusted several of them with 
the care of his most important fortresses, and eventually 
confirmed all the privileges which their nation had 
formerly received from the Macedonians. 

B. C. Ptolemy was soon compelled to resign Judea 

312. to his powerful enemy Antigonus ; but, at the 
same time, contrived to reserve some Jewish cities, and 
to carry off a prodigious treasure, together with a multi- 
tude of the inhabitants, whom he encouraged to settle in 
Alexandria. 

Seleucus, observing the good effects that resulted from 
Ptolemy's clemency toward the Jews, prudently resolved 
to offer them an asylum in Asia Minor : and, accord- 
ingly, planted such considerable colonies of them in his 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 2 If 

new cities that they soon began to spread themselves 
over his dominions, and formed so considerable a portion 
of his subjects that he deemed it advisable to cultivate 
their friendship, and to treat them, upon all occasions, 
with such a degree of kindness as might conduce to the 
preservation of their loyalty, and the aggrandizement of 
his own power. 

Whilst this prince rendered himself popular by a well 
timed munificence, Antigonus was universally detested 
for his fierceness, perfidy and tyranny ; and the province 
of Judea, being almost depopulated by repeated migra- 
tions of the Jews into Syria, was easily recovered by the 
king of Egypt. 

About this time the Jewish high priest Simon, died, 
in the ninth year of his pontificate. 

He had succeeded his father, Onias, in a time of great 
confusion ; and his conduct had been uniformly marked 
with such piety and integrity, as induced his contempo- 
raries to honor him with the surname of " the Just.'* 
His name was also rendered illustrious by that ardent 
love of his country which he demonstrated, on various 
occasions, by repairing the dilapidations of the holy 
temple and city ; completing the canon of the Old 
Testament ; and promoting the worship of his Creator 
both by precept and example. This justly famous char- 
acter was the last member of the Great Synagogue ;* 

* The Great Synagogue consisted of a hundred and twenty- 
elders, who in a regular succession, after the expiration of the 
Babylonish captivity, laboured assiduously in restoring the 
Jewish church and state ; and exerted themselves to diffuse an 
accurate knowledge of the Holy Scriptures among their 
"brethren. 

u 



318 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

and at his decaese the high priesthood, devolved on his 
brother Eleazar. 

B. C ^ n the demise of Ptolemy Soter, his successor 

28 i. Philadelphia, confirmed all the privileges which 
had been granted to the Jews ; and even conferred 
greater obligations upon them than they had ever re- 
ceived from his father, in order to obtain a copy of their 
sacred books (o be translated into the Greek language, 
and deposited in the royal library of Alexandria. Several 
other princes endeavoured to ingratiate themselves with 
this nation, about the same time ; and Antiochus Theos 
prudently resolved to bind the Jews of Ionia to his in- 
terest, by granting them all the franchises of the native 
inhabitants. 

Ptolemy Euergetes, having succeeded to the throne 
of Egypt, and having dispossessed his rival, Antiochus, 
of the provinces of Syria and Cilicia, visited the capital 
of Judea, and offered a profusion of sacrifices as a token 
of gratitude for his recent victories. 

Soon after this period, Manasses the uncle of Simon, 
succeeded to the high priesthood ; but he died, in less 
than two years, and left his dignity to Onias, a man of a 
base and avaricious spirit, who devoted the greatest 
part of his time to hoarding up riches, and who, by 
indulging this insatiate thirst of gain, exposed the 
Jewish state to the indignation of the Egyptian monarch. 
However, his nephew, Joseph, undertook to pacify the 
prince, and his exertions were crowned with such 
success, that Judea was happily delivered from the 
expected chastisement. Onias was succeeded in the 
priesthood by his son Simon, who was justly celebrated 
for his zeal and piety ; and who gave some extraordi- 
nary proofs of conduct and courage in the first year of 



TO THE BIRTH OF GUI SAVIOUR. 21$ 

his pontificate, which was marked by several hostile in- 
cursions of the Samaritans. 

Ptolemy Philopator, having succeeded to his father's 
throne, and compelled Antiochus to relinquish an at- 
tempt on Palestine, resolved to visit the capital of Judea; 
and was so well pleased with the loyalty of tin iul r.bit- 
ants, that he made several considerable presents to their 
priests, and cawed a number of sacrifici B to he offered 
at his own expense. His generosity, however, produced 
but a transient gltavi of happiness ; for he scon con- 
ceived an unconquerable desire of examining the interior 
of the temple, and actually foiced his way through the 
outward courts in spite of ike remonstrances of the 
priests, and the bitter lamentations of the people. But 
on his attempting to penetrate into the most holy place, 
lie was smitten with ii oj x^siblc terror, and was 
obliged to be carried out by his attendants, bo awful 
a judgment O&ighl have been expected to convince him 
of his error ; but instead of bowing to the chastisement 
of Heavt n, or acknowledging his transgression, he re- 
turned to Egypt, with a fnm determination to wreak his 
vengeance on all the Jews who resided in his kingdom 
However his barbarous design was in a great measure* 
frustrated, by the interference of that Adorable Being 
"whom he had so grossly insulted ; and he was, at length, 

* Wo say " in a great measure" for, though the most dreadfut 
evils were averted by Divine Providence. Philopator exercised 
many cruelties upon the Jews of Alexandria ; such as, stripping- 
them of all their ancient privileges, ordering them to be en- 
rolled among the lowest order of Egyptians ; causing them to 
he braided, by a hot iron, witli the badge of his god Bacchus,, 
aiid sentencing- great numbers to slavery and death 



220 



FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 



compelled to revoke the sanguinary decrees by whicli 
he expected to have destroyed an unoffending nation. 
B. C. The persecutions which the Jews had sus- 
^ 04f - tained under this tyrant, induced them to throw 
off their allegiance to Egypt, at his decease, and to place 
themselves under the protection of Antioehus the Great, 
king of Syria. That monarch was so highly gratified 
with their submission and zeal, that he restored their 
metropolis to its ancient liberty and privileges ; gave a 
considerable sum out of his own treasury for the repairs 
of the temple, and the maintenance of public worship ; 
granted an exemption from all taxes, for three years, to 
all the dispersed Jews who should return to their capi- 
ta! ; and offered the inestimable blessing of freedom 
to all those who had been sold for slaves in any part of 
his dominions. These extraordinary acts of beneficence 
effectually captivated the affections of a people who 
had long groaned beneath an insupportable yoke ; and 
Judea might now be said to smile under the benign 
influence of its new master. About three years after 
this important revolution, the high priest Simon died, 
and was succeeded by 1 is son, Onias III. whose justice, 
clemency, and exemplary piety were deserving of a 
better fate than he met with. 

In the eighth year of this pontificate, the Jews were 
deprived of their royal patron : but his son Sekucus, 
continued to protect them in all their civil and religious 
privileges, and the expenses of their sacrifices were 
regularly defrayed out of the royal treasury, till an un- 
fortunate misunderstanding took place between the high 
priest and the governor of the temple, which involved 
the Jewish nation in many calamities. This contest, 
which seems to have resulted from some disorders in U>e 



TO THE BinTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 221 

city, grew to such a height, that Simon resolved to take 
an ample revenge on his opponent, and accordingly 
gave such an account of the sacred treasures to the gov- 
ernor of the province, that Seleucus determined to 
appropriate part of them to his own use, and, with this 
design, commanded Heliodorus to fetch them away to 
Antioch. 
B. C. The king's messenger was received at Je- 
^ 6 ' rusalem with every mark of respect, and the 
pontiff readily acknowledged that there were certain 
treasures in the temple ; but, as they consisted entirely 
of consecrated utensils, or sums of money which had 
been bequeathed to the widows and orphans of the Jew- 
ish community, they ccruld not possibly be removed 
from the house of God. Heliodorus, however, insisted 
upon executing his commission, and even ordered the 
gates of the temple to be broken down : but whilst the 
priests were striving to divert him from his purpose, 
and the people were sending up cries to heaven for the 
preservation of their sanctuary, he was suddenly over- 
whelmed with confusion by an awful vision, and soon 
afterwards quitted a city, which he acknowledged to be 
under the protection of some Divine and irresistible 
power. Simon now endeavoured to ruin the high 
priest by a new stratagem, and, accordingly charged 
him with having invited Heliodorus to Jerusalem ; but 
Onias justified himself without difficulty, from this im- 
pudent accusation; and eventually proem ed the ban- 
ishment of his treacherous rival. 
B. C. Antiochus Epiphanes had no sooner assumed 
l^ 5 - the Syrian diadem, than Jason, the brother of 
Onias, went to Antioch, where he purchased the high 
priesthood for three hundred and fifty talents ; and ob- 
v 2 



222 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

tained an order for the present pontiff to be sent to that 
metropolis. He also purchased a grant for erecting a 
gymnasium, or place of exercise, at Jerusalem ; and 
for making such Jews as would abjure their religion, 
free of the city of Antioch. Accordingly, on his re* 
turn, he began to train up the Jewish youth in all the 
fashions of the Greeks, and encouraged the people, both 
by precept and example, to adopt the superstitions of 
their idolatrous masters. However, after he had en- 
joyed his ill acquired dignity for a few years, he was 
supplanted and driven from Jerusalem by his brother 
Menelaus, who had contrived to raise a powerful party 
at the court of Epiphanes. 

The impiety of this wretch exceeded that of his pre- 
decessor ; for he not only used the most unwarrantable 
means to obtain the priesthood, and to bring about a 
general apostacy in Judea, but he even caused the holy 
vessels to be sold for the support of his extravagance ; 
and procured the death of Onias, because that pious man 
had rebuked him, at Antioch, for his abominable sac- 
rilege. 

Meanwhile Lysimachus, w T hom Menelaus had left in 
,care of Jerusalem, practised so many extortionate and 
tyrannical arts, that the inhabitants were exasperated 
faeyond endurance ; and an insurrection ensued, which 
terminated in the death of the oppressor, and the dis- 
persion of his guards. A solemn deputation was then 
sent to the king, in order to deprecate his anger, and to 
charge Menelaus with having occasioned all the recent 
troubles both in Antioch and Judea. This embassy, 
however, proved totally ineffectual, for justice was per- 
verted by the influence of gold, and the deputies, whose 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 



223 



pleadings might have softened the hearts of barbarians, 
were basely condemned to death. 

Jason, on a false report of the king's death, marched 
to Jerusalem at the head of a thousand men, and chas- 
tised many of the Jews for their attachment to his rival ; 
but the approach of Antiochus compelled him to flee 
for his life ; and eighty thousand persons were inhu- 
manly butchered or made prisoners by the Syrian 
troops, who were ordered to punish the supposed re- 
volt with unrelenting severity. Not contented with in- 
flicting this dreadful calamity upon Jerusalem, the im- 
pious monarch penetrated into the most sacred recesses 
of the temple ; tore off the golden ornaments ; carried 
away the holy treasures and utensils ; offered a large 
sow on the altar of burnt offering; and, having con- 
firmed Menelaus in the priesthood, left the unfortunate 
citizens to their own sad reflections. 
B C Two years had scarcely elapsed since this 
168. d re adful event, before Antiochus renewed his 
cruelties, by ordering Apollonius, his collector of trib- 
ute, to massacre all the male inhabitants of Jerusalem ; 
to take the women and children captives ; and to pil- 
lage the city without distinction. This diabolical com- 
mand vvas executed, on the sabbath, with such brutal 
severity, that the temple and synagogues were literally 
deluged with blood, the fortifications were demolished, 
many of the most stately edifices were reduced to ashes^ 
and every species of ferocious cruelty was practised on 
the unresisting citizens. A castle, or fortress, was also 
built on a high hill opposite to the temple, that the 
Syrian garrison might overlook and annoy the poor rem- 
nant of Judah who might occasionally approach the 



224 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

edifice, which had, in former times been visibly filled 
with the glory of their Creator. 

Antiochus still thirsted for the blood of the Hebrews, 
and, accordingly, promulgated an edict, by which those 
unfortunate people were forbidden to circumcise their 
children, to offer sacrifices to the God of their fathers, 
or to continue any of their religious practices, on pain 
of the most dreadful punishments. He also ordered 
the temple of God to be dedicated to Jupiter Olympus, 
and caused the image of that idol to be set up upon the 
altar ; while all the other towns of Judea were defiled 
by idolatrous altars, groves and chapels, and the inhab- 
itants were reduced to the most pitiable condition. 
However, the ministers of cruelty were frequently 
confounded by the intrepid firmness of their victims, 
and the cause of religion seemed to acquire fresh lus- 
tre from the death of every martyr. 

The king was so exasperated at this circumstance 
that he resolved to visit Jerusalem in person, and en- 
force the execution of his sanguinary commands ; but 
neither his presence, nor the terror of his known cru- 
elty could damp the heroism of the sufferers, or induce 
them to renounce the pure religion of their ancestors. 

About this time, God vouchsafed to espouse the cause 
of his persecuted worshippers, and raised up some il- 
lustrious characters for the deliverance of Israel and 
the chastisement of their idolatrous oppressors. Mat- 
tathias, a priest of the family of Joab, w ho resided at 
Modin, wss complimented by the king's officers, and 
tempted to establish the heathen worship in that city ; 
but instead of complying with this request, he slew one 
of his countrymen who had been persuaded to sacrifice 
to an idol ; killed the officer who came to enforce the 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 225 

royal edict, and running through the streets, exhorted all 
who were zealous for the Divine law to follow him. Ani- 
mated by the example of this man and his pious family, 
a great number of Jews determined to make a vigor- 
ous exertion for the recovery of their holy worship, 
and, accordingly, followed their venerable leader to one 
of the deserts of Judea, where they passed a decree for 
defending themselves against the enemy on the sab- 
bath ; and exerted themselves to collect such a body 
of partisans as might enable them to make an attack 
upon the heathen gods and their self deluded votaries. 

B. C. When they had received a sufficient rein- 
167. forcement, they marched out of their hiding 
place, and attacked both the heathens and apostate Jews 
with such irresistible fury, that the former were over- 
whelmed with consternation, and the latter were oblig- 
ed to flee for their lives ; while demolished altars, pros- 
trate images, and other works of superstition marked 
the triumph of truth and the returning effulgence of ce- 
lestial light. Having thus rendered themselves dread- 
ful to their Syrian and Jewish foes, the conquerors 
marched from city to city, cleansing the polluted syn- 
agogues, transcribing the sacred books, and restoring 
the worship of their Maker to its pristine order and 
purity. 

After these important transactions had received many 
proofs of the Divine blessing, and a thorough reforma- 
tion had begun to extend over a considerable part of 
Judea, Mattathias was arrested, in his glorious progress, 
by the angel of death. However, he had the satisfac- 
tion of leaving five valiant sons behind him, who en- 
tered into all his views, and engaged to follow his dy- 
ing commands with scrupulous exactness.. 



226 FROM THE END OF THE OLD- TESTAMENT, 

B. C. Judas Maccabeus, having performed the lasfc 
166 - mournful duties to his revered parent, put him- 
self at the head of his little army, and led them to bat- 
tie with such success, that many of the Syrian garrisons 
were driven from their posts, and the apostate Jews 
"were compelled to make a precipitate retreat, while a 
prodigious number of pious emigrants returned to thtir 
native country, and cheerfully enlisted under the ban* 
ners of the new general. 

The alarm occasioned by these proceedings was so 
general, that Apollonius, governor of the province, 
deemed it advisable to raise a considerable force for the 
Euppression of the rebellion. Accordingly he marched 
at the head of a formidable army against the Macca* 
bean chief ; but, instead of effecting his purpose, he 
received a mortal wound at the first onset, and his fol- 
lowers were defeated with dreadful slaughter. Seron, 
another of the king's generals was, also, overthrown by 
Judas, with the loss of eight hundred men ; and such 
brilliant success attended the arms of the Maccabees, 
that Antiochus began to dread tl>e total loss of Pal- 
estine. 

In this posture of affairs, Nicanor and Gorgias, two 
captains of consummate experience, entered Judea at 
the head of forty seven thousand soldiers, and formed 
an encampment on the plains of Emmaus ; while Ju- 
das had the mortification to be deserted by three thous- 
and of his followers. The remaining troops, however, 
were so animated by his affectionate speeches, and un- 
shaken confidence in God, that they rushed with un- 
daunted bravery on the enemy, and obtained a decisive 
victory. Timotheus and Bacchides, two persons of 
great celebrity in the Syrian army, attempted to re- 
vsnge their fallen countrymen ; but they were routed 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. J27 

with prodigious loss ; and several of their most im- 
portant fortresses fell into the hands of the conquerors. 

The news of these extraordinary exploits alarmed 
Lysias, who had been entrusted with the government 
during the king's absence, and induced him to march, 
in person, against the insurgents. Accordingly, he pro* 
ceeded, with sixty thousand infantry and five thousand 
cavalry, to Bethsurah, in the tribe of Judah ; but he 
was received with such courage, that five thousand of 
his men were cut to pieces, and the remainder were 
compelled to elude destruction by an ignominious flight. 
He, therefore, abandoned his enterprise for the pres- 
ent, and marched back to Antioch, in order to raise a 
more numerous army against the ensuing year. 

Lysias had no sooner returned into Syria, than the 
victorious Maccabees marched to Jerusalem, which had 
been hitherto polluted with detestable idols and covered 
with ruins. The melancholy spectacle which they be- 
held at Mount Sion, produced the most lively emotions 
of grief in the whole army : but their valiant leader 
soothed the anguish of their minds, and exhorted them 
to set about the purposed restoration. Accordingly, a 
select number of priests began to cleanse the temple 
from the statues and other objects of Syrian worship ; 
artificers were employed to make an altar of perfumes, 
a table of shew bread, a golden candlestick and sacred 
vessels, in lieu of those which had been carried off by 
the heathen ; workmen were ordered to repair the di- 
lapidations of the sanctuary with all possible dispatch ; 
and the bravest of the troops were appointed to guard 
all the avenues of the city. At length, the holy and most 
holy place being thoroughly repaired and purified, the 
divine worship, which had been intermitted for the 



22S FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

space of three years, was recommenced with all possi- 
ble solemnity and magnificence. 

B. C. The trumpets having sounded, at day break, 

165 * the lamps were lighted ; the lamb, for the daily 
sacrifice, was offered ; the customary portion of in- 
cense was burnt on the new altar ; and all the other cer- 
emonies, enjoined by Moses, were duly performed. 
Meanwhile the front of the temple was ornamented with 
a profusion of golden crowns and garlands ; the houses, 
likewise, were elegantly illuminated ; and the people 
bearing branches in their hands, expressed their grati- 
tude to God in appropriate songs of praise. This fes- 
tival was kept eight days, with equal joy and devotion ; 
and a decree was passed for its annual celebration by 
the whole nation, 

The neighbouring nations were so violently exasper- 
ated at these proceedings, that they attacked the Jews 
on every side ; but their forces were repeatedly van- 
quished with prodigious slaughter, while the Macca- 
bees acquired fresh courage and reputation. 

Meanwhile, Antiochus, who was collecting his trib- 
ute in Persia, received the news of these events with 
the utmost indignation, and threatened to bury the 
whole nation of the Jews in the ruins of their metropolis 
and country. But he was immediately smitten with 
an incurable disease in his bowels, and expired shortly 
after, in unspeakable agonies. 

Some time after the demise of this tyrant, Judas 
Maccabeus laid close siege to the tower of Acra, which 
had been built in Jerusalem, by Apollonius : but, some 
of the garrison having contrived to escape to Antioch, 
the young king advanced to their relief, at the head 
of one hundred thousand foot, twenty thousand horse, 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 229 

thirty two elephants, and three hundred chariots of war. 
Judas, however, having attacked his enemy, in the 
night, slew four thousand and six hundred of then* 
troops, and made a regular retreat to Jerusalem. 

Antiochus Eupator, having reduced the fortress of 
Beth sura, led his army toward the Jewish metropolis, 
and besieged the sanctuary with such vigor that the 
garrison was reduced to the utmost extremities. But 
the report of a rebellion in Syria induced the besiegers 
to grant peace to a people whom they had resolved to 
exterminate. Antiochus promised in the most solemn 
manner, that the fortifications of the temple should re- 
main untouched ; but on the cessation of hostilities he 
ungenerously caused them to be demolished. 

Menelaus, the apostate high priest, had attended the 
Syrian army in this expedition, but Lysias having ac- 
cused him of treason, he was condemned to be thrown 
into a tower of hot ashes. The Jews, however, had no 
cause to rejoice in the destruction of this enemy, for 
the pontifical dignity was immediately conferred upon 
Alcimus, who, like his predecessor, had made his court 
to the Syrians, by adopting their idolatrous practices. 

On the accession of Demetrius to the crown of Syria, 
Alcimus went to Antioch to complain* Gf the Jews, 
and to request the interference of the court in his be- 
half. Accordingly, two armies were sent out, the one 
under Bacchides, and the other under Nicanor, governor 
of Judea ; but the designs of both were frustrated, and 
Nicanor, having uttered many blasphemous words 
♦against the temple, was punished with exemplary 

* The Jews refused to admit Alcimus to officiate at tiieir 
altar, on account of his known impiety, and attachment to the 
superstitions of the heathen, 
w 



230 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

rigor ; for he was not only slain in battle, but his head 
and right hand were suspended from one of the towers 
of Jerusalem, as an awful example of Divine retribution. 

During the peaceful interval which followed these 
eventful transactions, Judas sent an embassy to Rome, 
and obtained an alliance with that powerful state, which 
seemed to promise the happiest consequences ; but, 
whilst this treaty was in agitation, Demetrius sent Bac- 
diides into Judea with the flower of the Syrian army, 
in order to revenge Nicanor's death, and to establish 
Alcimus in the priesthood. 

The approach of this army infused such an extraor- 
dinary terror into the hearts of Judas's followers, that, 
unmindful of their own credit, and their leader's pres- 
ervation, they began to draw off in great numbers from 
the field of battle. Maccabeus was deeply afflicted at 
this circumstance, but still refused to retreat before the 
enemy ; and, having exhorted the eight hundred men 
who continued with him, to act with becoming gallan- 
try, he broke the strongest wing of the idolatrous army, 
and chased the fleeing troops from Eleasa to Mount 
Azotus ; but being surrounded and overpowered by 
numbers, he fell, covered with honourable wounds, on 
a heap of his expiring enemies. 

B.C. The Jews, being totally disheartened by this 
16 °- accident, became an easy prey to the conqueror, 
who speedily reduced their capital ; inflicted the se- 
verest punishments on the friends and adherents of 
the Maccabees ; and established Alcimus in the high 
priesthood. But the impious pontiff, having presumed 
to break down one of the walls of the sanctuary, was 
suddenly smitten with a dead palsy ; and the surviving 
brethren of Judas began to make some strenuous ex- 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 23 I 

ertions against the cruel destroyers of their liberty and 
religion. 

Jonathan, having succeeded his brother Judas in the 
government of the persecuted Hebrews, made so 
vigorous a resistance against the Syrians, and gave such 
convincing proofs of his conduct and resolution, that 
Bacchides soon grew weary of the war, and, at length, 
concluded a treaty, by which he solemnly engaged to 
refrain from further hostilities against the inhabitants 
of Judea. 

The Syrian forces were no sooner withdrawn, than 
Jonathan commenced a regular government like that of 
the ancient Israelitish judges ; and made several im- 
portant reformations both in the civil and ecclesiastical 
affairs of the kingdom. He also accepted the high 
priesthood with the unanimous consent of the people ; 
and, by espousing the cause of Alexander, against his 
rival Demetrius, he procured many solid advantages to 
his country. Having thus risen to a considerable height 
of political importance, and rendered himself truly for- 
midable by- a succession of martial exploits, he devoted 
the greatest part of his time to the aggrandizement of 
his own nation :■ but though he espoused the causes of 
different princes, upon various occasions, with extraor- 
dinary prudence and success, he was, at last, decoyed 
by Tryphon, into the city of Ptolemais, and basely 
assassinated, together with a thousand persons who 
attended him in the quality of guards. 
B. C. Upon the report of this perfidious action, the 

14 3- Jews were thrown into the utmost consterna- 
tion and began to dread the most fatal consequences to 
their temple and country : but, having conferred the 
united dignities of general and pontiff on Simon, the 



2$2 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

only surviving son of Mattathias, they made some for- 
midable preparations for a defence, and caused the 
murdered bodies" of Jonathan and his two sons to be 
interred, with due solemnity, at Modin. 

Having made several needful regulations in Judea, 
and procured a ratification of an amicable alliance from 
Rome and Lacedsemon, Simon sent an embassy to De- 
metrius, the lawful heir of Syria, offering to acknowl- 
edge his sovereignty, and to assist him in dispossessing 
Tryphon of the regal dignity. These proposals were 
cheerfully accepted, and a letter was immediately re- 
turned, in which Demetrius constituted the Macca- 
bitish general, a sovereign prince of the Jews, and 
released his territories from all foreign dominion. This 
dignity, with that of the pontificate, being confirmed 
by the sanhedrim, Simon assumed the titles of " prince 
and high priest of the Jewish nation," and all public 
acts were ordered to be made in his name. He also 
reduced and demolished the tower of Acra ; established 
Jerusalem in peace and plenty ; beautified the sanctu- 
ary, and enforced obedience to the Divine laws upon 
every occasion. 

Meanwhile, Antiochus Sidetes, having resolved to 
make an attempt on the crown of Syria, sent a very 
obliging letter to Simon, in which he confirmed all his 
dignities and revenues, and added many other privileges, 
particularly that of coining money, which were imme- 
diately embraced by the Jewish pontiff. Antiochus, 
however, seems to have been actuated entirely hy self- 
ish principles ; .for, on his ascending the throne, he broke 
his league with the Jews, and even ordered one of his 
generals to invade their country. But his designs wera 



TO THE BIRTH OF OITR SAVIOUR. 233 

nappily frustrated by the vigilance of Simon, and the 
Syrian army was routed with considerable loss. 

B. c. About three years after this event, Simon was 

135. treacherously murdered at the castle of his son 
in law : and his two sons Judas and Matthias were in- 
volved in his unhappy fate. The vile author of this 
tragical deed had also sent an invitation to John, sur- 
named Hyrcan ; but he happily escaped the snare, and 
30on afterward succeeded his father in the government 
and high priesthood. 

The Syrian monarch was no sooner apprized of Si- 
mon's death, than he marched into Palestine at the head 
of a numerous army, and laid close siege to Jerusalem, 
in order to revenge the defeat of Cendebeus : but, after 
some time, he consented to draw off his troops, upon 
condition that the Jews should demolish the fortifications 
of their metropolis, and acknowledge his sovereignty 
by the regular payment of an annual tribute. About 
this time Jesus, the son of Sirach, seems to have trans- 
lated the book of Ecclesiasticus out of Hebrew into 
Greek, for the use of the Hellenistic Jews, resident in 
Egypt. 

The intestine commotions which distracted the king- 
dom of Syria upon the death of Antiochus, gave Hyrcan 
a favourable opportunity of enlarging his borders, and 
of renouncing his allegiance to the Syrian crown. Ac- 
cordingly he made himself master of several important 
places both in Phoenice and Arabia, and took such 
admirable precautions for their preservation, that the 
Syrians were unable to wrest them out of his hands. 
He also gained a decisive victory over the Edomites or 
Idumeans, and compelled all of that nation to abjure 
their idolatrous practices or to abandon their country 5 
W 2 



234 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 






in consequence of which, they became incorporated 
into the Jewish commonwealth. 

B. C. Having rendered himself formidable by these 

12(5 - successes, and by a new league of alliance with 
the Romans, Hyrcan turned his arms against the Sa- 
maritans with such resistless fury, that they were soon 
deprived of their strongest fortresses, and had the mor- 
tification to witness the demolition of Samaria, and of 
the idolatrous temple which Sanballat had erected, at 
their request, on Mount Gerizzim. 

The Jewish prince now enjoyed his authority without 
disturbance, and continued to amass prodigious treasure 
by the revenues which arose from his own fertile ter- 
ritories, and by the tributes he received from the sub- 
jects of his recent conquests ; while the temple and com- 
monwealth flourished with extraordinary splendor, and 
the most felicitous effects resulted, in every part of the 
country, from his equitable administration. His last 
days were indeed imbittered by the leading men among 
the * Pharisees, and some vile aspersions were thrown 
upon his character by that restless faction : but he clos- 
ed his life with honor, and his loss was sorely regretted 
by the generality of the nation. 

Upon the demise of this celebrated Asmonean, the 
regal and sacerdotal dignities devolved upon his eldest 

* The Pharisees, or Separatists, were so called on account 

of their pretences to superior holiness, or to an extraordinary 

observance of the Oral Traditions, which they affirmed were 

delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai, and conveyed down through 

the several generations of the Jews from father to son. These 

persons whom our Saviour accused of having- made 

the L >''.) 1 void by their traditions j and it is upon the 

if this s'ect that tile present religion of the Jews is 

, r t] ! ■• ■ ■ : *VrStt£ff! I 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR, 235 

son Aristobulus, who assumed all the insignia of royalty, 
which had been disused since the Babylonish captivity, 
and commenced his reign with several acts of despotic 
cruelty. His mother, having asserted her right to a par- 
ticipation of the government, was barbarously starved to 
death ; and all his brothers were thrown into confine- 
ment except Antigonus, who enjoyed the tyrant's favour 
for some time, but was eventually put to death upon 
an unjust suspicion. The Itureans, who inhabited the 
north easterly parts of Galilee, were attacked and van- 
quished in this reign, but the haughty conqueror had 
no cause of triumph ; for he was seized with a violent 
distemper, and the recollection of his enormities, pro- 
duced a vomiting of blood, which soon terminated his 
successes and his life. 
B. C. Alexander Janneus being now liberated from 
105. prison, and placed on the vacant throne, led a 
powerful army against the city of Ptolemais ; expecting 
to reap some important advantages from the dissen- 
sions which, at this time, distracted the Seleucidas : 
but whilst he was employed in this expedition, Ptolemy 
Lathyrus invaded his kingdom ; defeated his troops in 
the vicinage of the Jordan, and took ten thousand of his 
subjects captive. The Jewish prince, however, was 
enabled, by the assistance of Cleopatra, to ward off the 
blow which threatened to annihilate his power ; and, 
after some time, he retrieved his disgraceful loss, by 
some important acquisitions in the land of the Phil- 
istines. 

Meanwhile the Pharisees, who detested him for en- 
forcing his father's decrees against their constitutions, 
took every opportunity to vilify his government, and to 
exasperate the common people against him. In con- 



236 FROM" THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

sequence of these practices, a spirit of discontent began 
to appear in several parts of Judea ; and the citizens of 
Jerusalem began to hold their sovereign in such con- 
tempt, that, white he was officiating in his sacerdotal 
capacity at the altar, they pelted him with citrons, and 
insulted him with the most opprobrious language. 
These marks of disaffection soon, ripened into an open 
revolt ; and produced a civil war, which in the space of 
six years, swept fifty thousand individuals to an un- 
timely grave, and brought innumerable calamities upon 
each party. 

Though Alexander gained several advantages over 
the rebels, he ardently desired a cessation of hostilities, 
and offered to make any reasonable concessions for their 
satisfaction : but as they peremptorily rejected his of- 
fers, and told him that the only way to oblige them was 
to terminate his own existence, he fell upon them with 
augmented fury, and, having cut off most of their troops 
in one decisive battle, chased the survivors to Bethome, 
and invested the city so closely as to preclude the pos- 
sibility of their escape. The unfortunate objects of his 
resentment made a long and gallant resistance ; but, at 
length, fell into the hands of the king, who caused eight 
hundred of them to be carried to Jerusalem, and there 
crucified in one day. Their wives and children were 
also butchered before their eyes, while they hung on 
their crosses ; and the royal concubines were entertain^ 
ed with a sight of that inhuman tragedy. 
B. C. Alexander, having inflicted this dreadful chas- 
86- tisement on his disobedient subjects, led his 
victorious troops across the Jordan, and achieved such 
brilliant conquests in Arabia, Gilead, and Moabitis,. 
that the fickle Jews began to applaud his martial spirit ;* 






TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 23? 

and the surrounding nations shrunk in terror from his 
arms : but his debaucheries visibly impaired his health, 
and threw him into a quartan ague, which occasioned 
his death, while he was besieging a castle belonging to 
the Gergesenes. 

Alexandra, being appointed sole guardian of the 
young princes, Hyrcan and Aristobulus, and having 
consulted her dying husband respecting the future gov- 
ernment of the state, made her court to the Pharisees, 
by resigning Alexander's corpse into their hands, and by 
promising to act upon all occasions, in conformity to 
their advice. By this submission she acquired a con- 
siderable degree of popularity, and established herself 
in her new dignity : but she was compelled to grant 
many exhorbitant demands, to the manifest derogation of 
her prerogative ; and her latter days were imbittered by 
many serious vexations. She died in the seventy third 
year of her age, and the ninth of her reign* and be- 
queathed the Jewish crown to her eldest son. 

Hyrcan the Second had scarcely ascended the throne, 
before his brother, Aristobulus, raised a powerful army 
against him, and, in less than three months, compelled 
him to sue for peace, on the ignominious conditions of 
resigning his regal and pontifical dignities. But, by 
the assistance of an Idumean called Antipater, and of 
Aretas king of Arabia, the deposed prince was enabled 
to assemble a body of forces, which chased the usurper 
to the very precincts of the temple, and besieged him 
so closely, as to preclude any hope of escape. 

B. C. In this posture of affairs, Aristobulus implored 
65 * the protection of the Romans; and accompa- 
nied his petition with such large presents as effectually 
answered his purpose, and induced them to write to the 



233* FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

Arabian prince, commanding him to raise the siege-, 
Aretas readily obeyed the injunction of the republic ; 
and Aristobulus, rushing from his asylum, deluged the 
country with the blood of his enemies. 

Some time after this event, the two brothers resolved 
to plead their respective causes- before Pompey, who 
was then at Damascus, and accordingly implored his' 
protection against each other, first by ambassadors, and 
afterward in person ; while the majority of the Jews' 
clamoured against them both, and insisted on the total 
abolition of monarchy in their country. 

Pompey heard each partf with seeming equanimity, 
and dismissed them with an assurance that he would 
take an early opportunity of deciding their controversy ; 
but Aristobulus was so dubious of the event, that he quit- 
ted Damascus in disgust, and began to make formidable 
preparations for war. In consequence of this impru- 
dent conduct he was loaded with chains, and thrown 
into prison, whilst the Roman general led his veteran 
troops into Judea, and took possession of the metrop- 
olis. 

Though the gates of Jerusalem were readily opened 
by Hyrcan's party, yet the faction of Aristobulus took 
shelter in the temple, and resolved to defend them- 
selves to the last extremity. Pompey, on the other 
hand, caused battering rams, and ether engines of war, 
to be brought from Tyre, and after a vigorous siege of 
three months, made himself master of the place, by 
battering down one of the towers, and making a con- 
siderable breach in the wall. The besiegers, having 
thus surmounted every obstacle, sacrificed twelve thou- 
sand persons to their resentment, whilst others eluded 
their vengeance by enveloping their apartments in 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 23$ 

flames or by precipitating themselves from the battle- 
ments of the temple. During these horrid transac- 
tions, the priests continued their devotions with per- 
fect calmness, and suffered themselves to be butchered 
before the altar, without any resistance ; while the con- 
queror gratified his curiosity with a view of the sanctu- 
ary, and the holy vessels, and issued out an order for 
the demolition of the city wall. 

When the invaders had satiated themselves with 
plunder and carnage, Pompey ordered the temple to be 
cleansed, and sacrifices to be offered according to the 
Mosaic institution. He also restored Hyrcan to his 
dignities, on condition of his paying an annual tribute 
to Rome ; appointed Scaurus governor of Judea, in 
order to prevent a future revolt ; and carried Aristobu- 

,' lus and his. four children prisoners to "Rome. 

rom this unhappy quarrel, therefore, between Hyr- 
can the Second, and his ambitious brother, we musl: 
date the final loss of the liberty of the Jews, and the 
translation of the sovereign authority to the Romans : 
for though Hyrcan was permitted to retain the high 
priesthood and the specious title of prince, he was de- 
prived of the ensigns of royalty, and laid under a dis- 
graceful tribute ; his dominions were unjustly reduced 
to narrower bounds ; and he was expressly forbidden to 
attempt any new conquests. 

Whilst Hyrcan rejoiced in the supposed frustration 
of his enemy's designs, Alexander, the son of Aristo- 
bulus, found means to escape from Rome, and appeared 
in Judea at the head of a formidable army. Hereupon 
Hyrcan had recourse to his new allies, and persuaded 
them to suppress this new rebellion ; but, though he 
obtained his request, he had the mortification to witness 



240 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 

a total change of the Jewish government, and a fresh 
proof of the tyranny of the Romans. Some time after 
these transactions, Aristobulusobtainedhisliberty, either 
by artifice or bribery, and joined the malecontents in 
Palestine ; but his attempts, like those of Alexander, 
•were rendered abortive, and he was carried back to the 
same prison, whence he had recently escaped. 

B. C. A few years after this event, Julius Cxsar 

49- gave Aristobulus his liberty, and sent him with 
two legions into Palestine, in order to overawe the 
Syrians, and to render him some occasional services 
against Pompey : but the Jewish prince was soon taken 
off by poison ; and his son, Alexander, was seized by 
Pompey's partisans, and decapitated at Antioch. 

Meanwhile Antipater, having rendered some im- 
portant services to Caesar in the Egyptian war, was 
made lieutenant of Judea, and honoured with the free- 
dom of Rome ; while the ancient alliance between 
Rome and Jerusalem was solemnly ratified, and a per- 
missory decree was granted for rebuilding the wall 
which had been demolished by Pompey. At the same 
time Antipater procured the government of Jurusalem 
for his eldest son Phasael ; and that of Galilee for his 
second son Herod, who swayed the Jewish sceptre at 
the time of our Redeemer's birth. 

Upon the assassination of Julius Cxsar, Cassius as- 
sembled a powerful army, and began to levy large trib- 
utes upon Syrb. and Judea, the last of which he taxed 
at seven hundred talents. Herod and Phasael eagerly 
embraced this opportunity of ingratiating themselves 
with the new governor, and raised their quota with 
extraordinary diligence ; but Malichus, who had been 
employed on the same occasion, was so tardy in the 



TO THE Bill Til OF OUR SAVIOUR. 241 

te&ecutiOfl of his commission that Cassius expressed the 
utmost indignation against him, and would certainly 
have doomed him to death, had not the pontiff stepped 
forward, with a considerable ransom, on his behalf. 

This incident, together with his jealousy of Antipater, 
induced Malichus to take off his formidable rival by 
assassination ; but his plot was discovered, and he 
deemed it expedient to dissemble his resentment till a 
more favourable opportunity. Accordingly he went to 
Antipater, and earnestly conjured him to lav aside his 
suspicions ; but he had no sooner c fleeted the desired 
reconciliation, than he bribed Hvrcan's butler to dis- 
patch the object of his envy by poison. This enormity, 
however, did not pass unpunished, for Herod, with the 
permission of his new patron, Cassius, sacrificed the 
traitor to his just resentment. 

Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, having obtained a 
body of cavalry from Parthia, and being joined by a 
multitude of discontented Jews, resolved to make a 
grand effort for the recovery of the kingdom ; and ac- 
cordingly, advanced with his united forces to Jerusalem. 
Here he received such a vigorous repulse as obliged 
him to take shelter behind the fortifications of the tem- 
ple ; but, by a treacherous artifice of Pacorus, cup- 
bearer to the king of Parthia, the aspect of affairs was 
suddenly changed, and Antigonus was invested with 
the supreme dignity ; whilst I lyrcan and Phasael were 
deluded into a dungeon, and Herod narrowly escaped 
destruction by a precipitate Bight, Upon this reverse 
of fortune, Phasael beat out his own brains in an agony 
of despair; and Ilyrcan was incapacitated from officiat- 
ing at the altar by an amputation of his ears. 
x 



243 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

Meanwhile, Herod, having preferred an unsuccess- 
ful petition to the king of Arabia, went to Rome, and 
pleaded his cause so powerfully before the conscript 
fathers, that a decree was passed for his succeeding to 
*he throne of Judea, and the ceremony of inauguration 
was solemnly performed, in presence of Mark Antony, 
and Octavius Cxsar. 

Thus dignified and patronised by the Romans, Herod 
returned to Judea, with a numerous body of forces, and 
reduced several places of importance. He also relieved 
his family, which had been closely besieged in the for- 
tress of Massada ; and exterminated some bands of 
robbers who had long infested the mountainous parts of 
Galilee. These exploits were immediately followed 
by a signal defeat of Herod's partisans, and the entire 
revolt of Galilee : but the son of Antipater took an 
ample revenge on his enemies, and chased them to the 
.very walls of Jerusalem. 
B. C. Early in the ensuing spring, Herod, having 
*&' formed a matrimonial alliance with the family 
of the Asmoneans, and having obtained a powerful re- 
inforcement from the Romans, laid close siege to Jeru- 
salem. The garrison made an obstinate resistance, and 
delayed the fate of their capital by several extraordinary 
exertions : but, at the expiration of six months, the 
place was taken by assault, and a scene of rapine and 
carnage succeeded, which may be easier conceived than 
described. Every street was ensanguined with the 
blood of its inhabitants ; every house was rifled by the 
victorious army ; and even the sanctuary would have 
undergone a similar fate, had not Herod interposed 
with his authority, and pacified the troops with a liberal 
donation. 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR. 243 

Upon the entire reduction of the holy city, Herod 
was placed on the throne ; and the unfortunate Anti- 
gonus was carried in chains to Rome, where he was 
soon afterward put to death, at the instigation of his 
rival. 

As Herod had obtained the crown by violence, he was 
compelled to establish himself by similar methods ; and 
the very commencement of his reign was marked with 
tyranny and blood. All the gold, silver, and other val- 
uables belonging to the citizens were seized, and depos- 
ited in the royal coffers ; death and confiscation of es- 
tates were thundered out against the surviving adher- 
ents of Antigonus ; and even dead bodies were arrested, 
and pillaged previously to their interment. Aristobu- 
lus, the young high priest was drowned in a bath, at the 
king's instigation ; Hyrcan, who had imprudently re- 
turned from Parthia, was basely murdered at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty years ; and Mariamne, a princess 
equally famous for her illustrious birth and exemplary 
virtue, was doomed to perish on a scaffold. 

Judea, in the mean time, exhibited a melancholy 
picture ; being shaken by earthquakes, invaded by a 
rapacious host of Arabs, and languishing under the 
effects of a severe famine. Thousands of people were 
buried in the ruins of their own houses ; multitudes of 
cattle were destroyed or driven off by the invaders ; 
and every part of the unfortunate kingdom resounded 
with the groans of patient sufferers, or the execrations 
of malecontents. The religion of the country was also 
shamefully polluted by the introduction of several hea- 
thenish games and customs. 

Notwithstanding the prompt execution of his tyrannic 
orders, and the rapid augmentation of his power, Herod 



344 FROM THE END OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, 

was involved in perplexities, and frequently overwhelm- 
ed with despair. The lass of his once loved and in- 
jured queen oppressed his spirits with a species of mel- 
ancholy which admitted of no diversion ; a grievous 
pestilence, which swept off great numbers of his sub- 
jects, soured his temper still more ; and the frequent 
rumor of plots and conspiracies rendered him so out- 
rageous, that he frequently sacrificed his dearest friends 
to his ungovernable fury. 

B. c. Having amassed a prodigious treasure, by his 
23 - cruel extortions and confiscations, he proposed 
to rebuild the *temple ; and actually performed that 
important work with prodigious cost and splendor. 
But though the dedication of this elegant structure was 
performed with all imaginable magnificence, and uni- 
versal rejoicings were made on the occasion, yet the 
populace regarded Herod as the author of all their ca- 
lamities ; and the admiration of his public magnificence 
was lost in the contemplation of their private wrongs. 

During the building of the temple, and several othep 
public works, Herod was embroiled in perpetual quar- 
rels with his two sons, Aristobulus and Alexander, whom 
Salome, the king's sister, had accused of treasonable 
designs ; and who, after several public trials and ac- 
quitments, were doomed to perish by the hands of an 
executioner. And the tyrant was so violently alarmed 
by fresh accounts of plots and purposed insurrections, 
that his heart was wrung with unutterable distress, and 

* Oar readers must observe that this edifice is not called the 
third but the second temple ; for, though it was built anew from 
the foundation, it was only by way of reparation, that of Nehe- 
mian not having- been demolished with a ruinous design* 






. > 



TO THE BIRTH OF OUR 1AVIOUR. 245 

his paroxysms of rage were expected to terminate 19 
lunacy* or death. 

About this time the temple of Janus was shut, to in- 
timate that all the nations of the earth were at peace, 
and a decree was issued out for taking a general regis- 
ter of the Roman Empire ; upon which account, Mary, 
a virgin, of the lineage of David, went to Bethlehem ; 
and there brought forth the adorable infant, of whom 
the angel Gabriel had previously asserted that he should 
save his people from their sins, and to whom the prophet 
Isaiah alluded, when he exclaimed in prophetic rapture, 
11 Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and 
the government shall be upon his shoulder ; and his 
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The 
Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The 
Prince of Peace. 

* In order to avoid an interruption of the history of the New 
Testament, we briefly observe, that Herod died by a dreadful 
complication of diseases, in the seventieth year of his age ; and 
left behind him four sons, viz. Archelaus, who succeeded him 
in the kingdom of Judea ; Herod Antipas, who obtained the 
tetrarchy of Galilee ; Philip, who was invested with the gov- 
ernment of Iturea, and Trachonitis ; and Herod Philip, who 
married the princess Herodias, on whose account John the 
Baptist suffered decapitation. It is also proper to remark 
that Archelaus was deposed, for his tyrannical conduct ; and 
that Judea was reduced to the form of a Roma** province, 
being* governed by procurators, who were appointed and re- 
called at the pleasure of the reigning emperor. The power 
of life and deatli was likewise taken out of the hands of tile 
Je ws ; and their taxes were regularly gathered by the publiean.3, 



CHAPTER XL 

from the Birth to the Ascension of Jesus Christ. 

W E are now arrived at an epoch the most interesting 
and important that ever marked the page of history, 
or excited the attention of mankind. A period at which 
the Sun of Righteousness arose, with healing in his 
wings, upon a benighted world, and brought life and 
immortality to light by the gospel ; while the true wor* 
shippers of Jehovah rejoiced in the accomplishment of 
the ancient prophecies, and looked forward, with inex- 
pressible delight, to that great day of atonement, in 
which the seed of the woman, should bruise the ser- 
pent's head. 
A. D. The blessed virgin had no sooner brought 
1- forth her Divine Son, and laid him in a man- 
ger at Bethlehem, than the happy circumstance was an? 
nounced, to some shepherds, by a host of angels, who 
exclaimed, in holy rapture, " Glory to God in the 
highest, Peace on Earth, and good will toward men :** 
and the Oriental magi, were conducted by a miraculous 
star to the new born king of Israel, whom they worship- 
ped with becoming reverence, presenting unto him 
gold, frankincence, and myrrh. 

The holy child, having been thus announced by his 
Father's angels, and adored by the wise men of the 
East, was carried, on the fortieth day, to the temple of 
Jerusalem, to receive the rite of circumcision, and to 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 24? 

be redeemed according to the Mosaic institution. On 
this occasion a venerable Hebrew, named Simeon, took 
him in his arms, and in a transport of holy gratitude 
exclaimed, " Now, Lord, let thy servant depart in 
peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." The 
prophetess Anna, a woman of exemplary piety? also 
began to speak of this Divine Babe, to all them who 
looked for the consolation of Israel ; and many devout 
persons rejoiced in the accomplishment of Micah's pre- 
diction. " Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be 
little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee 
shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler in Is- 
rael, whose goings forth have been from of old, from 
everlasting. 55 

The jealousy of Herod was roused by the first intel- 
ligence of our Redeemers birth, and he earnestly con-* 
jured the Eastern magi to give him a particular inform- 
ation respecting the illustrious object of their search ; 
but they were warned by a celestial vision to shun his, 
presence, and accordingly returned home without obey-* 
ing his injunction. Hereupon the tyrant laid aside his 
dissimulation, and issued out an order for the destruc- 
tion of all the male children, not only in Bethlehem, but 
in all the adjacent coasts, from two years old and un- 
der. However, his diabolical design was frustrated bj* 
an angel, who commanded Joseph (the reputed father 
of Christ) to retire with his family into Egypt. Upon 
the demise of Herod, the highly favoured exiles were 
recalled ; bat as they dreaded the resentment of Arche- 
laus, they turned aside into Galilee, and took up their 
abode at Nazareth. 
A. D. When the Messiah had attained the age of 
*£ twelve years, he went up to Jerusalem, at tht 



248 FROM THE BIRTH 

feast of the passover, and surprised the doctors of the 
law, by asking such questions and making such re- 
marks as clearly demonstrated his superior knowledge 
and wisdom, though his tender years and indigent con- 
dition precluded the possibility of his having profited so 
considerably by education. Whilst the Redeemer was 
thus employed, his mother and Joseph missed him. 
from among their company, and sought him for three 
days, with restless anxiety, till at length they found him 
in the temple. He then told them that they might 
have supposed he was about his father's business, and 
went home with them to Nazareth, where he spent the 
remainder of his childhood in obedience and subjection. 
The ancients assert that he was brought up during this 
interval, to the trade of his reputed father ; and this 
opinion seems to be founded on fact, as Jesus himself 
in the New Testament is expressly called a carpenter. 
In the fifteenth year of the emperor Tiberius, and 
during the pontificate of Caiaphas r John the son of Zee- 
hariah and Elizabeth, left the wilderness, where he had 
spent the greatest part of his youth, and began to preach 
the necessity of repentance and the kingdom of the 
Messiah. The novelty of this doctrine, and the re- 
markable austerity of John's life drew great multitudes 
of Jews to hear, and to be baptized by him in the Jor- 
dan ; and a considerable reformation began to appear 
among his adherents, wiom he earnestly exhorted to 
lay aside all vain confidence, to conduct themselves 
•with piety and decorum, and to bring forth fruits meet 
for repentance. The Pharisees, being apprized of 
these particulars, sent some of their priests to investi- 
gate the nature of his preaching and pretensions, upon 
which he replied that he was neither the Christ, nor the 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST 249 

prophet Elias, whom some supposed to have risen 
from the dead, but that he was merely the precursor of 
the Messiah ; or " a voice in the wilderness to prepare 
the way of the Lord," according to the inspired pre- 
diction of Isaiah. He also declared that though the 
Saviour came after him, yet he was not worthy to bear 
his shoes ; and that he only baptized with water, where- 
as Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with 
fire. 

A. D. Shortly after this declaration, Jesus presented 
30- himself at the bank of the river, in order to be 
baptized : and John humbly excused himself from that 
high office, but his remonstrances were silenced, and he 
adminstered the holy rite with becoming reverence. 
Upon their coming up out of the water the * Holy- 
Ghost descended, in form of a dove, and rested upon the 
Redeemer's head, while a voice from heaven proclaim- 
ed " This is my beloved Son in whom I am well 
pleased." And the Baptist embraced that opportunity 
of informing the people that this was the very Christ, 
and the Lamb of God, who should expiate the sin of 
the world. 

Having thus received the rite of baptism, Jesus was 
led by the spirit into the wilderness, not only to endure 
temptation, and conquer the tempter, but probably to 
spend forty days in meditation and converse with his 

* This was the clearest demonstration ever given to mortals 
of the existence of the Holy Trinity ; for though we are 
told that God (the Father) is a consuming fire, and that none 
can see him and live ; yet upon this solemn occasion, the voice 
of that God issued from the clouds of heaven, whilst his coe* 
qual son stood by the side of the Baptist, and the Holy dhost 
rested visibly upon him ; #s a confirmation of his Divine nature 
and mission. 



250 FROM THE BIRTH 

Heavenly Father, as Moses spent forty days with God, 
upon Mount Sinai, previously to his giving the sacred 
law to the Hebrews. In this retirement he was as- 
saulted with three powerful temptation s, but his infer- 
nal enemy was so completely baffled by as many ap- 
peals to the Scripture, that he was compelled to retire 
without effecting* his purpose : and the victorious Mes- 
siah received a timely supply, after his lone; abstinence, 
from the hands of some angels who are expressly said 
to have come and ministered unto him- 

In consequence of John's ample testimony, Andrew 
the son of Jonas, and Simon his brother, became the 
disciples of Jesus ; and these were soon joined by Philip 
and Nathaniel, who accompanied their blessed master 
to a marriage festival at Car a, in Galilee, where a mi- 
raculous transformation of water into wine, filled the 
company with admiration, and confirmed the faith of 
the new converts. From Cana the Redeemer went to 
Capernaum, a small city near the lake Gennezareth ; 
and from thence to Jerusalem, where he celebrated the 
passover, for the first time after his entrance into his 
holy ministry. 

Upon this occasion he found the temple crowded with 
money changers, and people who sold cattle, poultry, 
and other things used in the Jewish offerings, whose 
trade and tables were a scandalous profanation of that 
holy place. He therefore reproved them, in the sever- 
est terms for their impiety, and drove them out with a 
scourge of small cords ; while his disciples recollected 
that it was written, " The zeal of thine house hath eaten, 
me up ;" and many who saw the miracles which he 
did rejoiced in the fulfilment of Malachi's prediction. 
[< The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to hi$ 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 251 

temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom ye 
delight in ; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of 
silver ; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, that they 
may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness." 

Jesus, having given many proofs of his divine mis* 
sion, and having instructed Nicodemus, a venerable 
ruler in the fundamental doctrine of regeneration, went 
from Jerusalem into the other parts of Judea, and em- 
ployed his disciples in baptizing the new converts. This 
ministry occasioned a dispute between them and the 
followers of John, respecting the number of their prose- 
lytes ; but the Baptist decided the difference in Savour of 
his Adorable Master, affirming that he was from heaven 
and above all. 

John's unaffected piety gained the admiration of most 
of the Jews, and procured him the friendship of Herod 
Antipas, who seems to have taken great pleasure in ad- 
vising with him, and listening to his animated discourses. 
However, the tetrarch was so highly provoked at this 
holy person for his boldness in reproving him for an in- 
cestuous marriage, that he caused him to be thrown into 
prison, and eventually issued out an order for his exe- 
cution at the instigation of the abandoned Herodias and 
her daughter Salome. 

After a stay of about eight months in Judea, during 
which time he had healed aprodigious number of cripples 
and invalids, Jesus departed into Galilee, where he con- 
rerted many of the inhabitants, and preached in their 
synagogues. The Nazarenes, however, were offended 
at the extraordinary wisdom of a man whom they knew 
to have had so mean an education among them ; and the 
reproof which they received on this account exasperated 
them so highly, that they rushed upon the Divine Object 



7SZ FROM THE BIRTH 

of their resentment, and hurried him to the brow of 
the hill on which their city was built, with an intention 
to throw him down headlong ; but, by an exertion of 
bis celestial power, he eluded their malice, and retired 
imperceived to Capernaum, where he proclaimed the 
glad tidings of his gospel to attentive audiences, and 
where he demonstrated his omnipotence by healing a 
demoniac ; raising Peter's mother in law from a bed of 
sickness ; and restoring a prodigious multitude of dis- 
eased persons to health and happiness. 

The report of these proceedings drew together so 
great a concourse of people, that when Jesus arrived at 
the lake Gennezareth, he deemed it expedient to get 
into a boat, belonging to Simon Peter, and to launch 
out from the shore, that he might be more conveniently 
heard and seen by the multitude. When he had con- 
cluded his discourse he desired Peter to cast out his net 
for a draught ; and, though the fishermen had toiled all 
night in vain, such a prodigious quantity of fish was im- 
mediately taken as had nearly sunk the boat. Hereupon 
Peter fell at the Redeemer's feet, exclaiming, " De- 
part from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man :" but his 
fears were immediately dispelled, and he received the 
consolatory assurance that from henceforth he should 
become a fisher of men. 

During the Saviour's abode at Capernaum, multitudes 
of people came from the neighbouring provincesof Phoe- 
nice and Syria? to be healed of their infirmities ; and, 
among the rest, a paralytic caused himself to be carried 
thither in his couch ; and because the house was sur- 
rounded with a concourse of invalids, he requested his 
friends to untile a part of the roof, and let him down by 
ropes. Jesus beheld the poor man's faith with pleasure, 



•TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 2jo 

and desired him to set his heart at rest, for that his sins 
were forgiven. This expression was immediately coi> 
strued, by the discontented Jews, into blasphemy, and 
it began to be murmured through the assembly, "Who 
can forgive sins but God ?'* but our Blessed Master soon 
convinced them of their error, by empowering the para- 
lytic to take up his couch, and to return home in perfect 
convalescence. 

Shortly after this miracle, Jesus called a publican 
named Levi, or Matthew, from the receipt of custom, 
and accepted an invitation to the house of his new dis- 
ciple. This circumstance gave great offence to the 
Pharisees, who exclaimed in all the pride of self right- 
eousness, " Behold, he eateth with publicans and sin- 
ners 1" but their clamour was effectually silenced upon 
our Lord's affirming, that he was come to call sinners, 
and not the righteous, to repentance* 

Having effected a great reformation by his preaching, 
and rendered himself peculiarly dear to the poor by his 
compassionate miracles in this part of the country, Jesus 
returned to Jerusalem, in order to celebrate the ap- 
proaching festival of the Passover. Here he gave great 
offence to the Jews, by healing a paralytic, and restor- 
ing a man's withered hand on the sabbath clay : but he 
silenced their reproaches by unanswerable arguments, 
and proved to a demonstration, that works of mercy 
were rather the proper business than a violation of the 
sabbath. He also disculpated his disciples, who had 
been severely censured for plucking some ears of corn, 
and rubbing them between their hands, to appease their 
hunger, on the seventh day : but though the complaints 
of the Pharisees were annihilated, their malice became 

Y 



254 FROM THE BIRTH 

more inveterate, and they actually resolved to take Jesus 
off by assassination. This design, however, was frus- 
trated for the present, and the Saviour retired to the 
maritime parts of Judea, where he exercised his wonted 
goodness upon all objects of compassion. 

One night, having withdrawn himself from the mul- 
titudes which usually attended his ministry, he went up 
into a mountain, and continued in fervent prayer till 
the morrow, when he called his followers together, and 
ordained twelve* from among the rest, to be immediate 
witnesses of his life and doctrine, and to spread abroad 
that glorious gospel, by which the fallen progeny of 
Adam might obtain forgiveness of their sins, and eternal 
.happiness. 

Meanwhile crowds of people flocked to him from all 
parts of Judea, and the adjacent provinces, being fully 
convinced that his surprising cures on the sick, insane, 
demoniacs, and other objects of pity, were wrought by 
the immediate power of God .; and his discourses were 
so admirably calculated to enlighten the human mind, 
that he was always heard with amazement and atten- 
tion. 

Being addressed on behalf of a pious centurion, whose 
servant was dangerously ill of a palsy, the Messiah 
readily offered to go and heal him ; but the Roman 
officer acknowledged his unworthiness of so great &n 

* These persons, whom our Saviour honoured with the name 
of Apostles, were Simon Peter ^ Andrew his brother ; James 
and John, the sons of Zebedee ; Philip and Bartholomew ; 
Matthew the Evangelist ; Thomas surnamed Didymus ; James 
the son of Alpheus ; Simon Zelotes ; Judas, or Jude, surnam- 
ed tebbeus ; and Judas the traitor, *urnamed Iscariot 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 255 

honor, and observed that he depended entirely on the 
efficacious word of Jesus for the restoration of his ser- 
vant's health. Hereupon the afflicted domestic was 
healed according to his master's desire ; and Jesus em- 
braced that opportunity of assuring his auditors that 
many strangers should be admitted, by faith, into his 
kingdom, whilst multitudes of Abraham's descendants 
should be cast out for their unbelief and disobedience. 

Having raised the son of a poor widow to life, at the 
city of Nain, and given some other testimonies of his 
divine origin, Jesus accepted an invitation to the house 
of a Pharisee named Simon, where he was. accosted by^ 
a woman who had formerly led a dissolute life, but was 
now become a true penitent. This poor creature came 
behind her Saviour in the humblest manner, and pros- 
trated herself at his feet, which she bathed with her 
flowing tears, wiped with her dishevelled hair, and 
anointed with a costly perfume. Simon, in the mean 
time, was shocked at the transaction, and began to sup- 
pose that if his guest were a prophet, or messenger of 
God, he would have spurned such a notorious sinner 
from his presence ; but, by a beautiful parable, Jesus 
convinced the proud Pharisee of his error, and dismissed 
his humble votary with an assurance that her numerous* 
sins were freely pardoned. 

Upon Christ's return to Capernaum, he cured a poor- 
demoniac who had been long afflicted with deafness and 
deprivation of sight ; but whilst this miracle produced 
becoming emotions- of gratitude and admiration in many 
of the bystanders, the Pharisees exclaimed that he was 
a vile impostor, who cast out devils by the power of 
Beelzebub. Jesus, however, fully exposed the absurdity 



%56 FROM THE BIRTH 

of this assertion, and reminded his accusers, that though 
every species of blasphemy against the Son of M an 
should, upon genuine repentance, be forgiven, yet that 
against the Holy Ghost should never obtain forgiveness, 
either in this world or at the day of judgment. The 
Pharisees, finding themselves baffled in their diabolical 
malice, demanded a more convincing sign of his di- 
vine mission ; but he refused to give them any other 
than that of the prophet Jonah, observing, that as Jonah 
was three days and nights in the fish's belly, so should 
the Son of Man be as many days in the bowels of the 
earth. 

After instructing his followers in the glorious truths 
of his gospel, by several striking and elegant parables, 
he took ship, with a design to cross the sea of Galilee, 
and retired into the stern, where he fell asleep. A furi- 
ous tempest immediately ensued, and the waves rose to 
such a dangerous height, that the disciples began to 
dread the wreck of their vessel, and unanimously ex- 
claimed, " Master, save us, or we shall perish/* Je- 
sus, being awakened by their cries, rebuked them for 
their w r ant of faith ; and commanded the sea and the 
wind to be still. The furious elements instantly obeyed 
their Creator's voice ; and the mariners expressed their 
astonishment at the authority of their illustrious pas- 
senger. 

Jesus had scarcely landed in the country of the Gada* 
renes, before he was met by a demoniac, who was so 
extremely fierce that no chains could bind him, and 
who had hitherto resided among the tombs. This un- 
happy creature, having acknowledged that Jesus was the 
Son of God, and having besought him not to torment 
him, was asked his name, upon which he replied, my 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 257 

name is Legion, for we are many, implying that a 
multitude of evil spirits had taken possession of his body. 
Hereupon the Saviour restored him to his health and 
senses, while the infernal spirits migrated into a herd of 
swine, and precipitated those animals, to the number of 
two thousand, into the sea. 

The Gadarenes having besought Jesus to depart out of 
their coasts, he returned again to Capernaum, where he 
healed a poor woman of an hemorrhage, and raised a 
young maiden to life. He then cured two poor blind 
men, and revisited his native city Nazareth, where he 
preached with such majestic grace and eloquence, as 
astonished the whole audience ; but they still reflected 
on the meanness of his birth and education ; and, by 
their invincible obstinacy, prevented his working any 
signal miracles in their presence. 

On his departure from Nazareth, Jesus commanded 
his apostles to make a progress through all the cities of 
Galilee ; and, having. endowed them with his own mi- 
raculous gifts, enjoined them to labour assiduously for 
the conversion of sinners ; to dispense his blessings with 
gratuitous liberality, and to depend upon Divine Prov- 
idence for sustenance and reward. Whilst the disci- 
ples were thus employed, Jesus remained at Caper- 
naum, where he received information of the Baptist's 
death, and Herod's restless jealousy, which induced 
him, upon, the return of his missionaries, to retire to 
one of the deserts of Judea. Here he gave a con- 
vincing proof of his divinity, by multiplying five bar- 
ley loaves and a few small fishes to such an amazing 
quantity as sufficed five thousand persons, besides 
women and children. The multitude being fully con- 
vinced, by this miracle, that he was the true Messiah, 
resolved to make him a king by force j but he frus- 
y 2 



258 FROM THE BIRTH 

trated their intention by retiring to a neighbouring 
mountain, where he spent a considerable part of the 
night in prayer. 

Meanwhile the disciples, having embarked in a vessel, 
at their Master's command, endeavoured to row across 
the lake to Bethsaida ; but a contrary wind prevented 
them from reaching the shore. About the fourth watch 
of the night, Jesus walked toward them on the waves, 
and by that action threw them into the greatest conster- 
nation, as they supposed him to have been a spectre. 
However, the Lord assured them that it was really him* 
self, and permitted Peter to come to him upon the 
water : but that apostle had not proceeded far before 
his faith failed, and he began to sink ; whereupon Jesus 
upbraided him with want of holy confidence, and safely 
conducted him to the vessel. At his landing, he was 
met by a great concourse of people, who brought to him 
their diseased friends and relatives, and many persons 
who had been recently fed with the loaves and fishes, 
presented themselves again to his notice ; but these, be- 
ing rebuked for their sordid motive, quitted the Divine 
Preacher in disgust. 

Shortly after the celebration of the Passover, which 
was the third after Christ's entrance into his public min- 
istry, the Pharisees sent some of their spies to entangle 
him in his conversation, or to collect some matter of 
accusation against him ; but he answered them with 
such prudence and dignity, that they were effectually 
silenced ; though their employers still preserved their 
malice, and resolved to ruin the object of their hatred 
on the first occasion. 

Whilst the Scribes and Pharisees were consulting to- 
gether against the Lord of Glory, he travelled toward 






TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 259 

the coast of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into a house 
privately ; but the door was immediately thronged with 
sick persons and cripples, and he was again induced to 
manifest his divine compassion. Among the people 
who applied for aid upon this occasion, was a Syrophce- 
nician woman, whose daughter was grievously tor- 
mented with an evil spirit. The disciples were so dis- 
pleased at this poor woman's cries, that they requested 
their Master to send her away, and Jesus himself ob- 
served, that it was not proper to deprive the children of 
their meat and give it unto dogs : but, on her humbly 
reminding him that even dogs were permitted to eat the 
crumbs which fell from their master's table, he com- 
mended her faith, and pronounced the desired restora- 
tion of her daughter. 

On his arrival at Decapolis, the Redeemer gave the 
faculties of speech and hearing to a man who had been 
deaf and dumb from the time of his birth ; and perform- 
ed so many miraculous cures, that.the astonished multi- 
tude exclaimed, " He hath done all things well, for he 
maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak V 9 
Their admiration of his miracles ajid doctrines induced 
them to follow htm into a desert place, where he in- 
structed them in the precepts of his holy religion, and 
where, at the expiration of three days, he satisfied their 
hunger, by working a new miracle upon seven loaves 
and a few fishes. Upwards of four thousand persons 
were fed, by this instance of supreme power, and seven 
baskets were filled with the fragments that remained 
after their repast. 

Having arrived in the neighbourhood of Caesarea 
Philippi, and given his disciples an intimation of his 
approaching sufferings, and death, he conducted Peter, 



£60 FROM THE BIRTH 

James, and John, to an exceeding high mountain, and 
was there transfigured before them : for whilst he was 
engaged in prayer, his face was suddenly overspread 
with celestial brightness ; his garments became white? 
than snow ; and Moses and Elias appeared to and con- 
ferred with him. The apostles were confounded at the 
glory which surrounded them ; and Peter exclaimed 
" Lord it is good for us to be here ! Let us make three 
tabernacles, one for thee, one for Moses, and another 
for Elias." But, on a voice from heaven proclaiming 
" This is my beloved Son in whom I am well plea 
hear ye him," he prostrated himself on the ground with 
his fellow disciples, and remained in silent adoration 
till their master raised the'm up, and resumed his wonted 
appearance. 

Jesus, having commanded his disciples to conceal this 
vision till he was risen from the dead, descended from 
the mountain, and healed a youth who was dreadfully 
tormented by an evil spirit. He then spoke to the 
twelve concerning his crucifixion ; and, on being asked 
to pay the customary tribute to the Romans, he desired 
Peter to cast his hook into the lake, and told him that 
he should find a piece of money in the mouth of the first 
fish he took, which might be given to the collectors. 

Having rebuked his followers for their ambition, 
which had introduced some disputes, and having assured 
them that the only method to become great in his king- 
dom was to adopt the innocence and humility of an in- 
fant, the Redeemer appointed seventy other disciples to 
go to all the cities of Israel, preaching the doctrine of 
repentance, and confirming their mission by various^ 
signs and wonders ; whilst himself went up to Jerusa*. 
lem, and expounded the Sacred Writings with such wis* 



TO THE ASOENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 261 

dom and energy, that the people could not forbear ex- 
claiming " Whence hath this man so much knowledge ?" 
To this question he replied by observing, that his doc- 
trines were not of man but of God ; and that those 
who were disposed to obey the Divine will should soon 
be convinced of the truth of these assertions. He also 
remarked, that though many objected to the meanness 
of his birth, he was in reality of heavenly descent ; and 
he enforced his doctrines by such powerful proofs, that 
great numbers of the Jews acknowledged him as the 
true Messiah, and glorified God for the fulfilment of 
his gracious promises. 

The Jewish magistrates, being exasperated at the 
success which attended this plain preaching, sent some? 
of their officers to take him into custody ; but these per- 
sons, instead of executing their commission, were filled 
with admiration, and affirmed that no man had ever 
spoken like him. 

Finding themselves baffled in. this attempt, they 
brought an adultress to the Redeemer, and desired him 
to give judgment respecting her, that they might find an 
accusation against him, either for his severity, or too 
great indulgence. Jesus, who clearly perceived their 
design, stooped down and wrote with his finger upon 
the ground, as if he did not hear them ; but be- 
ing pressed to declare his mind, he desired that the 
accuser who was free from sin, should cast the first 
stone, and then resumed his former attitude. This un- 
expected decision had such an effect upon the hypocrit- 
ical Pharisees, that they all withdrew, one after another,, 
and left the woman with her Divine Judge, who dis* 
missed her with this gentle reproof, " Go thy way and' 
sin no more.** 



262 FRONT THE BIRTH 

After several discourses with the Pharisees, which 
tended to establish the truth of his own doctrines, and 
to expose the fallacy of their self righteousness, Christ 
departed into Galilee, where he healed an old decrepid 
woman, who had not been able to raise herself up dur- 
ing the space of ten years ; and wrought many other 
miracles in confirmation of his blessed doctrines. 

At the feast of dedication, instituted by Judas Mac- 
cabeus, our Lord went up to Jerusalem and cured a 
man that was born blind. The news of this transaction 
soon reached the sanhedrim, and a dissension arose 
among the members of that assembly, some of whom* 
affirmed that the miracle was a breach of the sabbath, 
and others insisted that no such wonders could be 
wrought by a sinner. Hereupon the man's parents 
were examined respecting his blindness ; and the patient 
himself was desired to ascribe the glory of his cure to 
God alone, since the person who had wrought it was 
certainly an impostor. The young man, however, 
boldly refuted their assertion, and spoke with such be- 
coming zeal in vindication of his Divine Benefactor, 
that, after a contemptuous rebuke, they caused him to 
be turned out of the assembly. 

After suffering many persecutions from the incredu- 
lous Pharisees and Sadduces, Jesus went to a village 
called Bethany, in order to raise his friend Lazarus from; 
the dead. Upon his arrival at this place, Martha, the 
sister of the deceased, complained with many tears,, 
that if he had been there she should not have suffered 
such an afflictive loss : but Jesus comforted her with an 
assurance, that her brother should rise again ; and con- 
vinced her, by the subsequent display of. his power, that 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 263 

he was indeed " the resurrection and the life" for on 
his addressing- himself to his Father in prayer, an,d com- 
manding Lazarus to come forth, the corse which had 
been supposed putrescent, received new animation, and 
was immediately restored to the enjoyment of life and 
health. 

This signal proof of Christ's divinity was quickly ru- 
moured through every part of Judea, and overwhelmed 
the sanhedrim with consternation ; " For," said they, 
" if we permit him to work such miracles without mo- 
lestation, all men will believe on him, and the Romans 
will come and destroy both our place and nation. 5 ' Af- 
ter much consultation upon the subject, Caiaphas, the 
high priest, stood up, and spoke to this effect, " Ye 
seem to know nothing, nor consider that it is expedient 
one man should die to prevent the ruin of a nation :" 
little thinking that he was then prophesying respecting 
the redemption of mankind by the despised son of 
Mary ; but we are expressly told that God gave him the 
spirit of prophesy upon this occasion. His advice was 
readily embraced by the Jewish doctors, and after they 
had resolved to murder the guiltless object of their 
hatred, they agreed to put Lazarus to death also, lest 
the sight of him should increase the number of Christ's 
followers. 

Jesus, knowing the result of this consultation, with- 
drew to the city of Ephraim, and there continued with 
his disciples till the approaching festival of the Passover. 
He then returned to Bethany, and partook of a repast 
with Simon, who is surnamed the Leper. Whilst they 
were at supper, a woman entered the house, and anoint- 
ed the Saviour's head with a precious kind of ointment, 
-which she had brought in an alabaster box, for that 



'26-4 FROM THE BISfcTIt 

purpose. Judas, who appears to have been the purse 
bearer, was highly displeased at this instance of profuse* 
ness, and asked why the omtment was not rather sold 
and given to the poor : but Jesus severely rebuked the 
hypocritical censor, and affirmed that the woman's gen- 
erosity in anticipating his burial rite should be spoken 
of with reverence' by the preachers of his gospel in all 
parts of the world. 

On the following day, Jesus repaired to Bethphage, 
upon Mount Olivet, and directed two of his disciples to 
go to a certain place, and bring from thence a she ass, 
and a young colt, that had never been backed. This 
order was immediately executed ; and the disciples, 
having set their master on the foal, accompanied him to 
Jerusalem, while the multitude that assembled to meet 
him strewed the road with their garments, and branches 
of palm, exclaiming, " Hosannah ; blessed is the Son 
of David, and blessed is the king of Israel, who cometh 
in the name of the Lord.* 

The Pharisees were highly incensed at these accla* 
mations, and earnestly desired the Redeemer to silence 
them : but, instead of complying with their impious 
request, he assured them that if his followers should 
hold their peace, the very stones would cry out, and pro- 
claim the illustrious Author of so many divine miracles. 
However, on his approaching the city, he damped the 
joys of his disciples, by reminding them of the dread- 
ful ruin which would shortly overwhelm their country ; 

* Thus was the prophecy of 'Zechariah accomplished, 
* Rejoice, O daughter of Zion : Shout, O daughter of Jerusa- 
lem. Behold thy King Cometh unto thee : he is just and hav- 
ing salvation ; lowly, and riding upon the foal of an ass." See 
2echariah ix. and 9th verse.. 



YO THE ASCENSION OF JESlfS CHRIST. 255 

&fid the contemplation of that awful event had such ah 
effect upon his own tender heart, that he burst into a 
fiood of tears, and exclaimed, in the language of sincere 
compassion, " Oh that thou hadst known, at least in 
this thy day, the things that belong tin to thy peace I' 
but now they are hidden from thine eyes, and the time 
approaches when thine enemies shall cast a trench about 
thee, and enclose thee on every side ; massacre thy 
children within thy bosom ; and level thee with the 
ground, so that one stone shall not remain upon 
another ; because thou knowest not the time of thy vis- 
itation. " 

Havinguttered this compassionate expostulation, Jesus 
repaired to the temple, and gave a fresh demonstration 
of his divine authority, by expelling all the traders 
from that holy place, and rebuking the Pharisees for 
having converted the house of his worship into a den of 
thieves. The incensed rulers haughtily demanded the 
reason of this conduct, but his answer overwhelmed 
them with confusion, and he exposed their malice, un- 
belief, and hypocrisy, by such severe parables and argu- 
ments, that they would certainly have apprehended him 
had they not been overawed by the concourse of his 
admiring auditors* 

On hearing that a number of Greeks who had come 
to the festival, were desirous of seeing him, Jesus grat- 
ified their curiosity, and entertained them with an af- 
fecting discburse on his own approaching sufferings. 
He then requested his heavenly father to glorify his 
name, and was immediately answered by a voice from 
above, « I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again/' 
The people, though surprised at this phenomenon, en- 
tirely mistook the voice, some asserting that an angel 



2<56 FROM THE BIRTH 

had spoken, and others that a clap of thunder had issued 
from the clouds : but Jesus assured them that it was the 
real voice of God, which came from heaven, not for 
his, but their sakes, to warn them to make a right use 
of the evidence he had afforded them, lest they should 
draw upon themselves a heavy condemnation. 

After giving his disciples a memorable proof of his 
humility, and the absurdity of the opposite vice, by wash- 
ing their feet, and enforcing the necessity of charitable 
offices, Jesus prepared to celebrate his last and most 
solemn passover. Accordingly he directed two of his 
apostles to a certain house in Jerusalem, and followed 
thither, with the rest of the twelve, toward the even- 
ing. Whilst they were at supper, he began to be ex- 
ceedingly sorrowful, and told his beloved companions 
that one of them, pointing to Judas, should betray him ; 
that Peter, who had always appeared peculiarly zeal- 
ous, should deny him three times before the crowing of 
the cock ; and that all the rest should abandon him that 
very night. At the conclusion of the mournful repast he 
took bread, and, having broken and blessed it, distrib- 
uted it among the disciples, saying, " Take eat ; this 
is my body which is given for you : do this in remem- 
brance of me." Then, having blessed the wine, he took 
the cup, and presented it to them with these memorable 
words : " Drink ye all of this ; for this is my blood of 
the New Testament, which is shed for you and for 
many, for the remission of sins." The ceremony was 
then closed with an appropriate hymn, and the Re- 
deemer desired his disciples to follow him to the garden 
of Gethsemane. 

On their arrival at this retired spot, Jesus commanded 
some of his followers to watch near the entrance of the 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 26? 

garden, whilst he conducted Peter, James, and John 
to a separate part, that they might see and bear witness 
to his agonies, as they had already witnessed his trans- 
figuration. He then prostrated himself on the earth, 
and, in the bitterness of anguish mingled with the most 
submissive resignation, prayed, that if it were possible, 
the dreadful cup might pass from him. This prayer was 
repeated twice, and the vehemency of his struggle 
threw him into such a dreadful agony,* that great drops 
of blood are expressly said to have issued like sweat 
from his pores, and to have fallen to the ground. An 
angel, however, was sent to comfort him under this 
matchless trial ; and his love toward the fallen sons of 
Adam triumphed over every pain. 

Meanwhile Judas, who had consented to betray his 
Master for thirty pieces of silver, approached with 
several armed followers, and came to offer the treach- 
erous kiss which he had appointed for a signal ; arid the 
disciples who had been overpowered with sleep, were 
affrighted at the sight of their Lord's danger. Three 
times the ruffian band was struck to the ground at the 
voice of Jesus ; and Peter, drawing his sword, struck 
off the ear of one of the high priest's servants ; but the 
wounded man was immediately healed, and the illustri- 
ous Object of search suffered himself to be bound and 
dragged before the sanhedrim, without any mark of an- 
ger or resentment, while ten of his disciples withdrew 

* It may not be improper to remark upon this subject, that, 
though Jesus Christ was really the Mighty God, and the Co- 
equal Son of the Most High ; yet, in his capacity of Me- 
diator, he stood in the place of his fallen creatures, and con- 
sequently endured the very extremity of pain- which could^fcs 
felt by man, or inflicted by Divine Justice. 



268 FROM THE BIRTH 

in the utmost consternation, and Peter followed to the 
high priest's palace, where he soon denied his suffering 
Lord, according to Christ's prediction* 

Jesus having borne the utmost indignities, and receiv- 
ed the sentence of condemnation from the members of 
the sanhedrim, was conducted to the tribunal of Pontius 
Pilate ; and accused of various practices which threat- 
ened to destroy the peace of Jerusalem, and to invalidate 
Caesar's authority. Hereupon the governor entered into 
conversation with our Lord ; and, after some time, de- 
clined giving judgment, since he could find nothing 
criminal either in his conduct or pretensions : but the 
Jews repeated their charge with such vehemence, that 
Pilate ordered the prisoner to be sent to Herod the te- 
trarch of Galilee. 

Herod was highly gratified by this circumstance, as 
he had long desired to see a proof of Christ's extraordi- 
nary power; but, finding that the prisoner would neither 
gratify his impertinent curiosity, nor evtn answer his 
interrogations, he ordered his guards to carry him back 
to the procurator of Judea. 

Pilate was still unwilling to condemn an innocent 
person, and reminded the Jewish rulers that it was cus- 
tomary to release a criminal on such festivals as that of 
the Passover ; but they strenuously insisted on the exe- 
cution of Jesus, and demanded that a murderer, named 
Barabbas, should be set at liberty in preference to him. 
Hereupon Pilate delivered the suffering Redeemer into 
the hands of the Roman soldiers, who scourged hira 
with merciless severity ; pierced his sacred temples 
with a crown of thorns ; and exposed him to public de- 
rision, by covering his wounded shoulders with a pui> 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESTJS CHRIST. 269 

pie robe, and placing a reed in his hand as mock en- 
signs of royalty. 

In this deplorable condition was the Son of GoD 
brought forth into the streets of Jerusalem ; and Pilate 
probably designed to appeal to the humanity of the mul* 
titude when he exclaimed, " Behold the man 1" but 
that rebellious race cried out with increased vehemence 
for his crucifixion ; and even declared that his escape 
would be a perpetual reproach on Pilate's loyalty. The 
governor, therefore, having washed his hands, and de- 
clared himself innocent of the blood of that just person, 
delivered him up to be crucified, whilst the self deluded 
Jews exclaimed, " His blood be upon us and upon our 
children," 

During these transactions Judas, being stung with re- 
morse for his treacherous conduct, went to the sanhe- 
drim, and threw down the reward of his baseness be- 
fore the members of that assembly, acknowledging 
himself the vilest of sinners, and exhibiting various 
marks of contrition ; but, as his sorrow and despair were 
alike disregarded, he went and hanged himself : and 
the Jewish doctors, thinking it unlawful to replace the 
thirty pieces of silver in the treasury, agreed to purchase 
a potter's field with them, for the sepulture of strangers. 
Such was the accomplishment of Zechariah's prophetic 
remark ; " They weighed for my price thirty pieces of 
silver ; and the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the 
potter a goodly price that I was valued at by them* 
And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to 
the potter in the house of the Lord." 

Jesus was now stripped of the purple robe, and led, 
with two melefactors, toward a mountain, which was 
called Calvary by the Romans, and Golgotha by the He" 
z 2 



270 FROM THE BIATH 

brews. In his way to this doleful place, he addressed 
himself to some women, who had melted into tears at 
the sight of his distress,, and desired them to refrain 
their sorrow on his account, since they would have 
abundant cause to weep for the sad. catastrophe of their 
own nation and metropolis. 

A. D. About the sixth hour of the day he arrived at 
33. the place of execution, where he was stripped* 
and nailed t© the accursed tree ; but neither the excru- 
ciating agonies of his body, the inconceivable distress of 
his righteous soul, nor the blasphemies of his triumph- 
ing enemies could induce him to leave the great work 
of atonement unfinished, or to call down vengeance 
upon the impious multitude : but on the contrary, he 
raised his eyes to heaven, and earnestly prayed that his 
Father would pardon a deed which was committed 
through ignorance. At the same time the two crim- 
inals, who had accompanied him from the city, were 
crucified, the one on his right hand and the other on his 
left, according to the saying of Isaiah, "He was num- 
bered with the transgressors.** 

Whilst Jesus hung suspended on the cross, a volun* 
tary sacrifice for the sin of his murderers, he observed 
his mother, accompanied by his beloved disciple John, 
and Mary Magdalen, weeping profusely at the sad spec- 
tacle of his sufferings. He therefore recommended 
the former to the care of his favourite, and earnestly 
entreated them to show to each other the endearing 
duties of mother and son. Meanwhile an horrific dark- 
ness overspread the face of the earth, and continued for 
the space of three hours : during which time many of 
the spectators were overwhelmed with amazement, and 
returned to the city with many expressions of grie% 



To THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 2TI 

while the rest remained in a kind of stupid silence, ex- 
pecting the event 

At the ninth hour, (the time of offering up the even- 
ing lamb) Jesus cried, in the extremity of anguish, 
" Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani," " My God, my God, why 
hast thou forsaken me !" and soon after expired, with 
these memorable words, " It is finished !" At this 
moment the universal frame of nature seemed to fall 
into convulsions ; the earth quaked, the rocks clave 
asunder, the graves burst open, the dead arose, and the 
veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, 
in token of the accomplishment of all the Mosaic types, 
and the completion of man's redemption. 

The Jews, having satiated themselves with ven- 
geance, requested of Pilate that the legs of the suffer- 
ers might be broken, and their bodies taken away, that 
the solemnity of their Passover might not be sullied. 
An order was immediately granted for this purpose ; 
and the lives of the two malefactors were terminated by 
the additional pangs of breaking their legs ; but as Je- 
sus was already dead, they contented themselves with 
piercing his side, which immediately discharged a mix- 
ture of blood and water. These last circumstances, 
however, seem to have been under the immediate di- 
rection of Divine Providence, as they verified two an- 
cient prophecies* respecting the Messiah ; one of which 
implied that " a bone of his should not be broken ;" and 

* Some other prophecies were also fulfilled at the time of 
our Saviour's crucifixion, particularly those of king David; 
" They pierced my hands and my feet :" and again, " They 
parted my garments among them ; and cast lots upon my ve^ 
ture. 



272 FROM THE BIRTH 

the other, that " the inhabitants of Jerusalem should 
look on him whom they had pierced." 

Joseph of Arimathea, having begged permission to 
bury the Saviour's body, carried it to his own garden, 
and deposited it in a new tomb, whilst the Pharisees 
obtained a body of guards to watch the door of the se- 
pulchre, and to prevent the disciples from carrying off 
their deceased master. 

On the third day some pious women, who had pre- 
pared a costly mixture of spices to embalm the Re- 
deemer's body, arose at earliest dawn, and went to the 
place of his interment ; but reasoned among themselves 
respecting the removal of the ponderous stone which 
lay at the entrance of the tomb. That obstacle, how- 
ever, was already removed by a partial earthquake, and 
the guards had fled* to their employers with the aston- 
ishing news of Christ's resurrection ; so that the 
women found the stone rolled away, and an angel, 
clothed in shining garments, sitting upon it. Whilst 
they gazed upon each other in silent astonishment, the 
celestial messenger addressed them in words to the fol- 
lowing effect ; " Why seek ye the living among the 
dead, after your Lord has so frequently assured you 
that he should rise again on the third day ? Behold the 
place where his body was laid, and hasten to acquaint 
his disciples with the news of his resurrection." 

The women ran with all possible speed, to execute 
this pleasing commission, but their information was, for 

* The Pharisees were no sooner apprized of this circum- 
stance, than they bribed the soldiers to suppress the truth, and 
to spread abroad a report that the body bad been stolen during' 
the night by Christ's disciples. 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 2'To 

some time, regarded as the mere effect of a deluded 
imagination. At length, however, Peter and John had 
the curiosity to run to the sepulchre, where they found 
the burial dress folded together, and consequently began 
to entertain some hopes. Whilst they were conversing, 
with their brethren on this important subject, Mary 
Magdalen came and assured them that the Lord had 
really appeared to, and conversed with her in the gar- 
den : but the majority of them still remained sceptical, 
till Jesus himself appeared in the midst of their little 
assembly, and renewed his promise of going before 
them into Galilee. 

The same evening two of the disciples were over* 
taken by Jesus on the road to Emmaus, and instructed 
by him in several scriptural points ; but they do not 
seem to have had anv idea of his person till they arriv- 
ed at their journey's end, when he blessed their repast, 
according to his former practice, and vanished out of 
their sight. Upon this discovery they called to mind 
the extraordinary emotions that had been produced ia 
their bosoms by their Master's conversation on the road 5 
and went immediately to communicate their joy to the 
residue of their brethren at Jerusalem. 

Notwithstanding these repeated and concurring testi- 
monies, the apostles seem to have imagined that they 
had only seen a spirit or phantom in the form of therr 
crucified Lord, and they were, probably, confirmed in 
this conjecture when, being at supper, with the doors 
fastened, for fear of the Jews, Christ surprised them with 
his presence, and gave them his accustomed benedic- 
tion. However, he convinced them of their mistake, 
by showing them his pierced hands and feet ; explained 
several of the ancient prophecies to their entire satis^ 



274 FROM THE BIRTH 

faction ; and left them to meditate on the glorious oo 
currences of the day. 

Thomas, surnamed Didymus, happened to be absent 
on this occasion, so that he still remained incredulous, 
and plainly declared that he should never be convinced 
of Christ's resurrection, unless he were permitted to 
thrust his fingers into the prints of the nails, and his 
hand into the wound which had been opened by the 
centurion's spear. At the expiration of eight days, how- 
ever, he was overwhelmed with confusion at the sight 
of Jesus, and instead of taking the full demonstration 
which he had before insisted on, he prostrated himself 
at his feet, and acknowledged him as his Lord and his 
God. Hereupon he was dismissed with this mild re- 
proof, " Thou believest Thomas, because thou hast 
seen ; but blessed are they who have not seen and yet 
believe/' 

Shortly after this blessed manifestation, the eleven 
disciples quitted Jerusalem according to the divine ap« 
pointment, and went to Galilee, where their Master 
indulged them again with his presence, and renewed 
his former commission to preach and confirm his gos- 
pel, in these words, " All power is given to me both in 
heaven and earth. Go, therefore, and preach to all 
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost." 

Upon another occasion he revealed himself to seven 
of the disciples, and having wrought a beneficial mira- 
cle for their subsistence, condescended to eat and drink 
with them. He also gave Peter an especial charge to 
feed the flock of God, and predicted the martyrdom 
which should terminate the labours of that apostle* 



TO THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST. 275 

Having thus manifested himself to his beloved disci* 
pies for the space of forty days, during which time he 
conversed familiarly on subjects of eternal importance, 
and comforted them with the assurance of his continual 
blessing, the Redeemer gathered all his church together 
as is supposed to the number of *five hundred, and led 
them to a mountain where he gave them a solemn bene* 
diction, and promised to confirm their testimony respect- 
ing him by various miraculous signs and wonders. 

Having given these irrefragable proofs of his resurrec- 

• 
tion, and commanded his disciples to wait at Jerusalem 

till they received the promised Comforter, Jesus led the 
objects of his especial favour to the Mount of Olives, 
whence he ascended, in a bright cloud, to those regions 
of pure delight, which had been governed by his sceptre 
before the foundation of the world ; and which now re- 
sounded with the new song f of" Worthy is the Lamb 
that was slain, to receive power, honor, glory, and bless* 
ing." 

* See 1 Corinthians, xv. chap. 6 verse. 
t Revelations, chap. v. 12th vejrse, 



27€ 



CHAPTER XII, 



jFrom the Ascension of bur Saviour to the Death if 
St. Paul. 



a.d. nr* 

33. A HE disciples, having received an assurance 
from a celestial spirit, that the same Jesus who had now 
ascended into heaven, should in like manner come down 
again from thence, returned to Jerusalem ; and devoted 
their time to fasting, prayer, and such other acts of piety 
ds were most likely to qualify them for the reception of 
the Holy Ghost. After some time, it was proposed to 
choose a new member into the apostolic college, in or- 
der to fill up the vacancy which had been made by Ju- 
das ; and Matthias, one oi the seventy disciples, was 
chosen by lot, upon this occasion . 

On the morning which ushered in the great feast of 
Pentecost, a mighty sound was suddenly heard from 
heaven ; a rushing wind seemed to fill the room * 
where the disciples were assembled, and cloven tongues 
of fire set upon each of their heads. Being now filled 
with the Holy Ghost, and inspired with the knowledge 
of foreign tongues, they immediately began to declare 
the wonderful works of God to a concourse of people, 
both Jews and proselytes, who ran together at the re- 
port of this great event ; and Peter delivered such an ani- 

* The disciples of Christ, who were at this time about a 
hundred and twenty in number, were assembled in a large 
upper room, in the city of Jerusalem, 



FROM THt ASCENSION, 6X. -77 

mated discourse upon the occasion, that three thousand 
of his auditors were happily convinced of the truth of 
his assertions, and publicly acknowledged their faith in 
the crucified Redeemer. 

At the hour of evening prayer, Peter and John re- 
paired to the temple and healed a poor cripple who sat 
at the gate to solicit alms. This miracle, being per- 
formed in such a public manner, excited general atten- 
tion ; and, whilst the man who had received the cure 
was leaping and praising God, a concourse of people 
assembled about the apostles in Solomon's porch. Pe- 
ter resolved to embrace so favourable an opportunity of 
bearing witness to the Divinity of his glorified Master ; 
and his sermon was attended with such signal success, 
that five thousand persons were immediately converted 
to the faith of Christ ; and those who had previously re- 
ceived the glad tidings of the gospel were so firmly es- 
tablished in the fundamental truths of their new religion, 
that they began to lay aside their dread of persecution, 
and devoted the greatest part of their time to woiks of 
charity and exemplary piety. 

The members of the sanhedrim were no sooner ap- 
prized of these proceedings, than they sent officers to 
apprehend the apostles, and put them in prison : but 
upon Peter's boldly asserting the resurrection of Jesus, 
and demonstrating, from the scriptures, that he was the 
chief corner stone, which had been, long since, foretold 
to be rejected by the builders, they contented them- 
selves for the present, with forbidding them to resume 
their ministerial employment. 

Peter, having assured the members of the san- 
hedrim, that fhe should obey the commands of God 
rather than those of man, returned to the other dis- 

A A 



278 from the ascension of our saviour 

ciples, and acquainted them with what had passed. 
Hereupon they unanimously prayed, that the Deity 
would confirm their faith, courage, and miraculous gifts, 
for the furtherance of his gospel : and their apartment 
was immediately shaken in so miraculous a manner, 
that they were thoroughly convinced of the presence of 
their Redeemer, and consequently resolved to persevere 
in their undertaking, notwithstanding all the opposition 
and discouragements which they might receive from 
Jews and Gentiles. 

The Jewish rulers were highly exasperated at the vi- 
olation of their command, and ordered the apostles to be 
again thrown into confinement ; but, during the night, 
they were liberated by an angel, and sent back to preach 
the great atonement of the Messiah. When, therefore, 
the council assembled to determine on the fate of their 
prisoners, they received the astonishing news of their 
escape, and were, soon after* informed that they were 
haranguing the populace in the temple. Hereupon 
the captain and other officers of the temple were desued 
to seize the preachers, and bring them before the san- 
hedrim : but Peter and his colleagues answered to their 
accusation with such extraordinary boldness, and ad- 
duced such irrefragable reasons in support of their con- 
duct, that Gamaliel, a Pharisee of exemplary piety and 
great reputation, overruled the intentions of the other 
judges, and persuaded them to moderate their resent- 
ment, lest they should eventually be found to fight 
against God. The apostles were therefore dismissed, 
after a slight chastisement, and their brethren rejoiced 
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the 
cause of their divine Master. 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 270 

Shortly after this occurrence, the apostles ordained 
seven persons, from among the number of believers, to 
act as deacons in the church, and to take especial care 
for the relief of necessitous brethren, which had hither- 
to interfered with the more important work of the 
ministry. 

One of these deacons was Stephen, a man of extra- 
ordinary zeal and piety, who wrought such great won- 
ders in the name of Christ, as excited the malice of the 
Jews, and finally induced them to accuse him of blas- 
phemy against God and his servant Moses. Being 
brought before the sanhedrim, and permitted to speak 
in his own defence, he reminded his judges of the trans- 
actions of their progenitors ; demonstrated, by incon- 
trovertible proofs, that the Mosaic rites were to be 
abolished in order to make room for a more spiritual 
religion ; upbraided them with violating the law, de- 
spising the prophets, and murdering the true Messiah ; 
and finally asserted that he saw the heavens opened, and 
Jesus standing at the right hand of God. This speech 
was immediately construed into blasphemy, and the 
prisoner, being sentenced to death, was stoned without 
the gates of the city. 

A. D. The murder of this amiable man was followed 
34. by a violent persecution against the Christians j 
yet Divine Providence converted this very circumstance 
into a mean of propagating the gospel ; and whilst the 
saints at Jerusalem groaned beneath the tyrannous cru- 
elty of their enemies, their brethren migrated into the 
adjacent countries, and offered the invaluable gift of God 
to the Gentiles. 

During this persecution, Philip, the deacon, went to 
Samaria, and gave such convincing proofs of his divine 



280 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

mission, that many of the inhabitants received his word 
"with unspeakable joy, and among the rest, one Simon, 
a sorcerer, received the rite of baptism ; but on the 
arrival of Peter and John, who went thither to impart 
the * Holy Ghost to the new disciples, he offered a 
large sum of money for a similar power, and thus be- 
trayed his falsehood and hypocrisy. For this proposal 
Peter rebuked him with great severity, and affirmed 
that he had neither part nor lot in the blessings of the 
Christian church, since his heart was not right in the 
sight of God. 

The apostles, having performed their important task 
in Samaria and the neighbouring villages, returned to 
Jerusalem ; while Philip was led by an angel to one of 
the deserts between Jerusalem and Gaza. Here he 
met with a great officer belonging to the queen of 
Ethiopia, and converted him to the truth of the gospel, 
by expounding the fifty third chapter of the prophecies 
of Isaiah. The pious deacon was then caught away by 
the spirit, to Azotus, whence he travelled to Csesarea, 
and proclaimed to all the towns upon the road the glad 
tidings of salvation. 

Meanwhile Saul, a zealous Pharisee of the tribe of 
Benjamin, used his utmost endeavours to exterminate 
the disciples of Christ, and even desired authority from 
the high priest, to apprehend and imprison all persons 
of the new persuasion, whom he might find at Damas- 
cus. But previously to his arrival at that city, he was 

* It is evident from this passage, that Philip, who preached 
to the Samaritans, was not the apostle of that name, but only 
the deacon ; for had he been an apostle, Peter and John need 
not have taken a journey to lay hands upon the converts whom 
he had already baptized. 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 2$1 

Struck to the earth by a sudden blaze of celestial light, 
and a voice from heaven exclaimed, " Saul, Saul, why 
persecutest thou me." He was also smitten with blind- 
ness ; and remained for the space of three days in unut- 
terable agonies of mind ; but at length one Ananias was 
commanded to restore him to his sight, and to inform 
him that God had chosen him to publish the gospel of 
his Son to various parts of the world. The furious per- 
secutor being thus suddenly converted to the true faith) 
remained a few days with the disciples at Damascus, 
and, soon after, preached the resurrection of Christ in 
the synagogues, to the amazement of all who heard 
him. 

The Pharisees were utterly confounded at this unex- 
pected change in the faith and manners of Saul, and, 
after some fruitless disputations, resolved to take him 
off by assassination ; but their base design was discov- 
ered, and the object of their unjust resentment was 
happily delivered by the assistance of his fellow dis- 
ciples. 

Having- eluded the vigilance of his implacable ene- 
mies, the new convert repaired to Jerusalem, and at- 
tempted to join himself to the Christians in that city ; 
but the recollection of his fierce and sanguinary per- 
secutions had made so deep an impression upon their 
minds, that they doubted the reality of his faith, and 
even trembled for the fate of their little assembly. At 
length, however, Barnabas* dispelled their fears, by 

* This person, whose name was Joses, was a fcerite of 
Cyprus, and appears to have been extremely useful in the 
work of the ministry ; for, in consequence of his preaching 
and other religious duties, the apostle surnamedhim Barnabas; 
or the Son of Consolation. 
a a 2 



282 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

relating the circumstances of his conversion, and assur- 
ing them that he had preached the word of God, with 
equal zeal and sincerity at Damascus. This testi- 
mony was fully corroborated by Saul himself, wjio 
asserted the divinity of his Lord, in the boldest manner, 
at Jerusalem : but as the Grecian or Hellenistic Jews, 
who had been confounded by his arguments, began to 
threaten him with death, the disciples prevailed on him 
to retire for the present to his native city Tarsus, in 
Ciiicia. 

During these transactions Peter cured Eneas of a 
palsy, at Lydda ; raised Dorcas from the p dead, at 
Joppa ; and wrought so many miracles in the name of 
his Adorable Master, that great numbers of people em- 
braced the doctrines of Christ. This apostle was also 
called by Divine Providence to Cxsarea, where he 
explained the way of salvation to a pious centurios, 
named * Cornelius, and expatiated so forcibly on the 
resurrection of the Messiah, and the necessity of re- 
pentance, that all his auditors immediately turned to 
God, and were baptized in the name of the Lord 
Jesus. 

The Jewish believers, hearing of this circumstance, 
reproved Peter for having visited and partaken of a 
repast with a family of heathens, in violation of the 
Mosaic law. But upon his informing them that his pri- 
vate scruples had been removed by a voice from heaven, 
and his conduct had received an abundant blessing, they 
laid aside their anger, and glorified r God who had gra- 
ciously extended his blessings to the Gentiles. 

* Cornelius had been admonished, by an angel, to send fbr 
Peter, that he might receive such instructions frojn that apos- 
tle as should conduce to his eternal happiness. 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 283 

The persecutions against the church, which had sub- 
sided from the time of Saul's conversion, were now 
renewed by Herod (or Agrippa,) who appears to have 
been a zealous observer of the Jewish religion, and who 
consequently regarded the doctrines of Christianity as a 
dangerous heresy. The first victim of his intemperate 
zeal was James the Less, surnamed Boanerges, whom 
he caused to be decapitated ; and Peter was, imme- 
diately after, thrown into prison. But though the 
greatest precautions were taken for securing that 
apostle, both with fetters and guards, the prayers of 
the Christians were heard on his behalf, and the very 
night before his designed execution he was liberated 
by an angel, from the place of his confinement, and 
enabled to shelter himself from the search of his royal 
enemy. 

A. d. Herod, having punished the supposed negli- 
44. genceofthe gaolers with death, went down 
to Csesarea, in order to celebrate some public games, 
in honor of Claudius Caesar ; and to give an audience to 
some Tyrian and Sidonmn ambassadors, who, having 
been some time in disgrace, came to deprecate his 
anger, and to implore the continuance of his friendship 
to their respective nations. Accordingly, on an ap- 
pointed day he appeared in his royal robes, and ad- 
dressed himself to the deputies in such an elegant 
speech, that those sycophants exclaimed, " It is the 
voice of a god and not of a man !" but whilst the air 
resounded with their impious acclamations, Herod was 
smitten with a dreadful disease, which both demon- 
strated the baseness of his flatterers, and terminated his 
mortal existence . 



284 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

Saul and Barnabas, being ordained for the express 
purpose of preaching to the Gentiles, went from * An- 
tioch to Cyprus, where they converted the governor 
to the faith of Christ, and smote a sorcerer, called 
Elymas, with blindness, for presuming to obstruct them 
in the discharge of their sacred duties. They then pro- 
ceeded to Pamphylia, and afterward to Antioch, in 
Pisidia, where Saul (who from this time is called Paul, 
by the sacred historian) delivered some animated dis- 
courses on the death, resurrection and divinity of Jesus 
Christ ; but the Jews contradicted his assertions, and 
even blasphemed the sacred name of his Redeemer, ia 
consequence of which he declared his intention of turn- 
ing to the Gentiles according to the command of the 
Lord. 

The Gentiles seem to have been truly grateful for 
this declaration ; and many of them believed to the 
salvation of their souls : but the apostles were subjected 
to many inconveniences by the discontented Jews, and 
were eventually compelled to quit the country. , 

In consequence of this persecution, they went to 
Iconium and preached, with great success, to a multi- 
tude of Jews and Greeks, who heard them with at- 
tention, and were amazed at the miracles which they 
wrought in the all prevailing name of Christ. After 
some time, however, an unhappy misunderstanding 
took place among the citizens, and the apostles were 
obliged to depart, with precipitation, to the region of 
Lycaonia. 

* Barnabas is said to have brought Saul from Tarsus to An- 
tioch ; and there the disciples of our Redeemer first received 
the appellation of Christians. 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 285 

On their arrival at Lystra, Paul wrought a miracu- 
lous cure upon a poor cripple ; and by that means 
excited the admiration of all the people ; insomuch, 
that they affirmed two of their gods, Jupiter and 
Mercury, were come down from heaven ; and it was 
with great difficulty that the apostles restrained them 
from offering sacrifices, under that mistake. At the in- 
stigation of certain malicious Jews, however, the fickle 
multitude caused Paul to be stoned, and left him for 
dead. 

When the riotous assembly was dispersed, Paul rose 
up, and went with Barnabas to confirm the disciples in 
several cities that had recently received the gospel. 
They then returned to Antioch in Syria, where they 
acquainted the brethren with all the particulars of their 
excursion ; and from whence they were sent to Jerusa- 
lem, in order to decide a controversy which had been 
raised among the believers, respecting the necessity of 
obedience to the ritual law of Moses. 

Having fully discussed this business, in the presence 
of Peter, James, and the other apostles, they sent a 
message to Antioch, and some other countries, im- 
porting that Gentile converts were not bound to fulfil 
the Jewish ritual ; but merely to abstain from fornica- 
tion, from meats offered to idols, from things strangled, 
and from blood. Paul and Barnabas then resolved to 
visit their brethren in every city where they had pi-anted 
or nourished the truth of Christianity ; but, a conten- 
tion arising respecting the person whom they should 
take for their assistant, they separated and took two 
several routes : Barnabas sailing with his favourite 
Mark, for Cyprus ; and Paul, accompanied by Si!a& 3 
making the tour of Syria and CiHcia. 



266 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

At Lystra, Paul became acquainted with a young 
disciple named Timothy, whom he took for a compan- 
ion in the ministry ; and they appear to have travelled 
through several parts of Asia Minor, confirming the 
churches, and proclaiming the complete redemption of 
mankind by Jesus Christ. 

Being invited by a nocturnal vision, to Macedonia, 
they preached at Philippi, with some success, and cast 
an evil spirit out of a young woman who had formerly 
enriched her masters by predicting future events. 
Hereupon the employers of the damsel caused the 
apostles to be seized and dragged before the magisr- 
trates, who immediately ordered them to be scourged, 
and imprisoned. Before the expiration of the night, 
however, the prison doors were burst open by a tre- 
mendous earthquake ; the bands of the prisoners were 
loosened ; and the gaoler, being convinced of the real 
cause of this occurrence, was baptized, with all his fam- 
ily, into the faith of our Redeemer. 

The apostles being dismissed by the affrighted mag- 
istrates, proceeded to Thessalonica, where several per- 
sons were converted through their instrumentality ; 
but the unbelieving Jews soon rose up against them, 
and excited a tumult, which would probably have pro- 
duced same fatal consequences, if they had not imme- 
diately resumed their journey. However, they were 
greatly comforted at Berea, by perceiving that the Jew- 
ish inhabitants of that place heard them with attention, 
and searched the scriptures diligently for a confirma- 
tion of the new doctrines which were submitted to 
their consideration. By this prudent and generous 
practice, many individuals were induced to believe in 
the despised Son of Mary ; and much good was yyrougltf 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 28? 

by the hands of the inspired preachers, till a deputation 
of Jews from Thessalonica disturbed the tranquility of 
the city. 

Upon Paul's arrival at Athens, he disputed with the 
Jew T s in their synagogues, and with the heathen philos- 
ophers in the market place ; and, on Mar's hill, he de- 
livered an elegant and convincing discourse on the 
existence and nature of that God, whom he found to be 
ignorantly worshipped under the appellation of M The 
Unknown." Nor did he merely insist upon the nature 
and necessity of that exalted worship which elevated the 
human mind to heavenly objects, and spurned at the 
fopperies of idolatry ; but he gradually introduced the 
glorious doctrines of Christianity ; and boldly declared 
that Jesus Christ, whom God had raised from the dead, 
should eventually judge the world in righteousness. 

Having thus performed his ministerial task at Athens, 
he removed to Corinth, where he continued, by the 
command of his Redeemer, eighteen months, and 
preached in the Jewish synagogue every sabbath day. 
His labours in this place were abundantly blessed to the 
Gentiles, and some Jews also were added to the church : 
but it appears that his joys were considerably damped 
by the evil practices of some false brethren, and pre- 
tenders to apostleship. Some obdurate Jews, aiso, 
made an insurrection upon his account, and d* agged 
him before the tribunal of Gallio, but that governor re- 
fused to pass judgment upon him, and he, consequently, 
eluded the fury of his enemies. 

On his arrival at E phesus, he preached to several 
person 3 who had been baptized only unto John's 
baptism, and, by the imposition of his hands, they 
received the Holy Ghost. He then proclaimed the 



288 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

glad tidings of the gospel to as many as chose to 
attend his discourses, and wrought many miraculous 
cures in the name of his Adorable Master ; but, at the 
expiration of two years, a silversmith, who made shrines 
for the goddess Diana, excited a general tumult against 
the apostle, which was with difficulty appeased by the 
town clerk. 

When the fury of the idolatrous rioters had subsided, 
Paul took leave of his christian brethren, and after 
some time, sailed to Troas, where he devoted seven 
days to the instruction of the people, and raised a young 
man to life, who had been killed by a fall from the win- 
dow of an upper apartment. 

Having assembled the elders of the Ephesian church 
at Miletus, and given them an especial charge to watch 
over the conduct and situation of the saints, he went to 
Oesarea, and took up his temporary residence at the 
house of Philip the deacon. During his stay at this 
place, a certain prophet, named Agabus, predicted that 
he should be bound at Jerusalem, and delivered into 
the hands of the Gentiles : but Paul persisted in his 
resolution of visiting that metropolis, and boldly de- 
clared that he was ready, not only to be bound, but to 
die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

Pursuant to this determination, he hastened by many 
fatiguing journies and voyages to Jerusalem, and in- 
formed the Christian elders in that city, of all the won- 
ders which God had wrought, by his hands, among the 
idolatrous Gentiles. He then purified himself after the 
manner of persons who had the vow of a Nazarite 
upon them, that he might not incur the charge of vio- 
lating the Mosaic law : but the unbelieving Jews had 
such an inveterate antipathy against him, that they 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 289 

seized him, under the false pretence of his having in- 
troduced Greeks into the temple ; and their fury rose to 
such an ungovernable height, that the apostle would 
certainly have lost his life, had it not been for the cap- 
tain of the temple, who rescued him with an armed 
force, and gave him permission to address the mul- 
titude. 

Paul, being thus called upon for his defence, made an 
elegant oration to his countrymen, in which he reca- 
pitulated the principal transactions of his life, and gave 
an animated description of his conversion : but when 
he affirmed that Christ had appeared to him in the 
temple, and commanded him to offer salvation to the 
Gentiles, his auditors exclaimed with one accord, 
c< Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not 
fit that he should live." Hereupon the chief captain 
conducted him to the castle, and ordered the chief 
priests and other members of the council to appear, on 
the morrow, that the prisoner might have a better op- 
portunity of pleading his cause before them. 

Next morning Paul was brought before the Jewish 
tribunal ; but, as one part of his judges were Pharisees 
and the other Sadducees, he prudently affirmed that he 
was called in question for the hope of the resurrection, 
and by that means eluded condemnation for the present. 
Upon his return to prison he was greatly encouraged by 
a vision of his Divine Master.; and, the cruel design of 
some Jews against his life, being frustrated by the Prov- 
idence of God, he was sent, under a strong guard, to 
Csesarea. 

The Jewish elders finding themselves disappointed of 
immediate revenge, followed the apostle to Cscsarea, 
and renewed their accusations before Felix, the gov- 
8 b 



290 FROM THE ASCENSION OF OUR SAVIOUR 

ernor of Judea. Paul's defence, however, was so ener- 
getic and convincing, that Felix refused to condemn 
him ; and only kept him as a prisoner, in expectation of 
receiving a liberal douceur for his liberation. 

At the expiration of two years, Festus succeeded to 
the government of Judea, and the inveterate Jews 
again preferred their complaints against the object of 
their resentment ; but Paul utterly denied their charge, 
and effectually bailed their nefarious design by appeal- 
ing to Cxsar. Soon after this transaction he was desired 
to give an account of himself to king Agrippa ; and his 
speech, upon that occasion, was fraught with such irre- 
sistible arguments, that his royal judge exclaimed, "Al- 
most thou persuadest me to be a Christian." 

Having thus vindicated his doctrines and conduct 
upon several occasions, Paul was, at length, sent to 
Rome with several other prisoners, and a suitable 
guard. Their voyage was rendered extremely dan- 
gerous by storms and dark weather, as the apostle had 
predicted, and they were finally shipwrecked near the 
island of Melita.* They all escaped, however, safe to 
land, and the barbarous inhabitants of the island en- 
tertained them with great hospitality. Here Paul, hav- 
ing excited the attention of the people, by shaking a 
viper from his hand without receiving any injury, 
wrought several miraculous cures, and laboured as- 
siduously in the work of the ministry for the space of 
three months, at the expiration of which time he re- 
sumed his voyage to Italy, and soon afterward arrived 
at Rome. 

Having, at length, reached the imperial city, and 
obtained permission to reside, with a Roman soldier, in 

* Now Malta, 



TO THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL. 291 

his own hired house, he sent for the chief of the Jews, 
and made a suitable apology for his having appealed to 
the emperor. He then began to preach the gospel to all, 
both Jews and Romans, who would give him audience ; 
and he occasionally comforted the churches of God by 
various instructive letters or epistles. 

After he had resided a considerable time at Rome, 
he was permitted to visit several of the Christian 
churches, both in Europe and Asia ; but on his return 
he w T as thrown into close confinement, and all men for- 
sook him. He therefore wrote to inform his beloved 
Timothy that the time of his departure was at hand ; 
and, after he had laboured and suffered more than any 
of the apostles, he was decapitated, by command of 
Nero, whose infamous cruelties have rendered his name 
and memory obnoxious to mankind. 

Of the other apostles of our Blessed Redeemer, it is 
only requisite to observe,- that Peter was crucified ac- 
cording to his Master's prediction ; James the Greater, 
was assassinated at Jerusalem ; John was banished to 
the isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse, 
or Book of Revelations, and most of the others termi- 
nated their successful labours by a glorious martyrdom, 



292 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Continuation of the Jewish History ', from the death of 
St. Paul to the final Destruction of Jerusalem by the 
Roinans. 

W HILST the church of Christ acquired strength 
and credit by the miraculous works of its apostles, and 
the pious deportment of its members, that of the Jews 
was distracted by commotions, and exhibited several 
convincing symptoms of its approaching downfal. The 
Jewish state was also involved in perpetual troubles, 
under a succession of tyrannical governors ; and the 
decision of a contest, which had been long carried on 
between the Jews and Syrians, respecting the city of 
Csssarea, was the signal for a general insurrection in 
Judea. 
A. D. Agrippa, who happened to be at Jerusalem 
69. at this critical juncture, made an elaborate 
speech to the insurgents in hope of appeasing their fury : 
but his intreaties and remonstrances were alike disre- 
garded, and he was soon compelled to provide for his 
own safety by flight. Nothing was now to be seen but 
acts of cruelty and desperation ; nothing to be heard 
but the agonizing shrieks of sufferers, and the rude 
shouts of sanguinary rebels. Twenty thousand Jews 
were inhumanly murdered by the Cesareans ; fifty two 
thousand were massacred in Egypt ; and three thousand 



FROM THE DEATH OF ST. PAVL, Sec. 293 

five hundred were cut off in one day, at Jerusalem, by 
comhiand of the Roman praetor ; whilst the Jews, on 
their part, exercised the most wanton cruelties on all 
the Syrians and Romans who had the misfortune to fall 
into their hands. 

After the rebels had, with the assistance of a numer- 
ous banditti, taken several important fortresses, reduced 
the palaces of Agrippa and the high priest to ashes, 
and defeated Cestius Gallus with the loss of four thou- 
sand of his infantry, and four hundred of his cavalry, 
Nero commanded Vespasian, an officer of extraordi- 
nary prudence and bravery, to march with all possible 
expedition into Palestine : but whilst that commander 
was employed in raising forces, and his son, Titus, was 
sent to fetch two of the Roman legions from Alexan- 
dria, the Jews made formidable preparations for carry- 
ing on the war, and appointed persons of approved con- 
duct and resolution to command their troops in^the va- 
rious cantons and fortresses of Judea. 

Early in the ensuing spring, however, the imperial 
army, which consisted of sixty thousand men, entered 
Galilee with fire and sword, and laid close siege to Jo- 
tapa. Josephus, governor of the province, being ap- 
prized of their design, supplied the city with an abund- 
ance of stores, and defended it with unparalleled brav- 
ery for the space of forty seven days ; but the Roman 
arms were, at length, victorious, and all the inhabitants 
were either sacrificed to the rage of the conquerors 
or made prisoners. Josephus, perceiving that all re- 
sistance was vain, hid himself in a deep cavern, with- 
forty of his men : but his retreat was discovered to 
Vespasian, and that famous general sent to offer him 
b jb 2 



234 FROM "THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL 

life upon honourable conditions. However, on his pro* 
posing to accept of this offer, his companions upbraided 
him in the severest manner, and threatened to mur- 
der both him and themselves unless he consented to 
draw lots who should kill his companion, and by that 
means prevent the crime of suicide. This dreadful pro- 
posal was accepted through necessity, and Providence 
so ordered it that the two last survivors were Josephus 
and a person whom he easily persuaded to surrender* 
On his arrival in the Roman camp, the Jewish com- 
mander assured Vespasian that he should soon enjoy 
the empire ; and, in conseqtienee of this prediction, the 
conqueror treated him with great respect and gen- 
erosity. 

After the reduction of Japha, Joppa and some other 
important towns in Galilee, the Roman forces invested 
Gamala, and soon got possession of the place ; but the 
garrison and inhabitants fought with such uncommon 
desperation, that the besiegers were driven back with 
prodigious slaughter : at length, however, a part of the 
wall was battered down, and the exasperated assailants 
took an ample revenge. During these transactions, 
Placidus obtained a decisive victory over some Jews, 
who had retired to the mountain Itabys ; and Titus, 
Jiaving took possession of Gischala, completed the con- 
quest of Galilee. 

Whilst tbe more rational part of the Jewish nation 
perceived the impending destruction of their country, 
and urged the necessity of immediate submission, the 
opposite party, headed by the most abandoned wretches 
that ever disgraced human nature, opposed all pacific 
measures, and filled the metropolis with blood and >a- 



TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 295 

mentation ; whilst famines, earthquakes, and terrific 
prodigies, conspired to fulfil the awful, predictions of 
Christ and his holy apostles. Twelve thousand persons 
of noble extraction were inhumanly slaughtered by a 
party of incendiaries, who veiled the most horrid Crimea 
under an affected zeal for religion, and the sanguinary 
tyrants assumed a sovereign power from which the un- 
happy sufferers had no appeal. 

After plundering and murdering all their principal 
opponents, the zealots began to turn their arms against 
each other, and the rival names of John and Simon were 
heard with consternation in all parts of the country : 
whilst the ill fated capital was literally filled with car- 
nage, misery, and dilapidations. 
A. D. Meanwhile, Vespasian, hearing of Nero's 
£*• death and Galba's accession, sent his son, 
Titus, to receive further orders respecting the war, 
and at the same time reduced all the Idumean 
towns to ashes, excepting such as were deemed 
serviceable for the troops whom he appointed to 
overawe the country. Shortly after these transactions 
Vespasian was elected emperor, according to the pre- 
diction of Josephus ; and Titus was empowered to 
terminate the war by the utter destruction of Jeru- 
salem. 

Notwithstanding their sad condition, and the rapid ap- 
proaches of a powerful enemy to the very gates of their 
capital, the Jews still persevered in their obstinacy, and 
madly augmented the number of their intestine calam- 
ities. Eleazer, a person of known courage, formed 
a new faction against John of Gischala, and actually 
converted the court of th$ priests injo a scene of bar- 



296 FROM TITE MATH OF ST. PAUL 

barous hostility, whilst Simon kept possession of. the 
city, and rendered himself equally insupportable by 
his tyrannical conduct. 

Such was the melancholy situation of Jerusalem 
■when Titus sat down before it with his victorious army* 
and began his hostile operations. The near approach 
of this enemy produced a temporary reconciliation* be- 
tween the contending factions ; and a sally was made 
with such irresistible fury that the besiegers were ac- 
tually driven from their camp : but they soon turned 
upon their pursuers* and took an ample revenge for this 
temporary disgrace. 

Titus, having repeatedly exhorted the Jews to throw 
down their arms, and accept of his clemency, ordered 
his troops to play their engines against the *outward 
wall ; and a breach was soon made which compelled 
the rebels to retire within their second enclosure. The 
besiegers then renewed their exertions with surprising 
fury, and the demolition of one of the towers afforded 
them a more important entrance. 

Notwithstanding these advantages, Titus was still 
anxious to preserve the city from destruction, and still 
continued to hold out the olive of peace to the inhab- 
itants ; but as all his offers were rejected with insolent 
disdain, he caused the place to be surrounded by a 
strong wall, that the garrison might neither receive 
any succours from the adjacent country, nor delude 
themselves with the hope of a safe retreat. 

Jerusalem was at this time afflicted by the united 
scourges of famine, pestilence, and civil war, and 

* Jerusalem was fortified with three walls and several 
strong towers. 



TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 297 

every street exhibited a horrid spectacle of emaciated 
invalids and putrefying bodies ; whilst the zealots exer- 
cised every species of wanton barbarity upon their fel- 
low citzens, and forced open every house in quest of 
provisions. At this juncture, also, a number of vile 
pretenders were hired to prophesy an approaching de- 
liverance, and by this means, the despairing remnant 
of the people were dissuaded from going out to the 
besiegers. 

Titus, being apprized of these circumstances, and 
hearing that an unfortunate mother had been reduced 
to the sad extremity of killing and eating her own in-' 
fant, swore to bury the Jewish metropolis under its own 
ruins ; and solemnly appealed to heaven for the recti- 
tude of his own conduct, which had, certainly, received 
the most ungrateful return from the objects of his 
present resentment. 

Pursuant to this resolution, he ordered his forces to 
endeavour to possess themselves of Fort Antonio ; and 
this command was executed with complete success ; 
but though nothing was now opposed to the enemy ex- 
cept the temple, and though formidable preparations 
were making for the reduction of that edifice, the Jews 
still permitted themselves to be deluded with vain hopes 
of a miraculous deliverance. 

On the seventeenth day of July, the diurnal sacrifice 
was interrupted, for the first time since its restoration 
by Judas Maccabeus ; and on the twenty eighth of the 
same month Titus took possession of the outer court of 
the temple. He then caused the gates of that famous 
structure to be set on fire ; and the flame soon commu- 
nicated to the adjacent galleries and porticos ; buj: 



298 FROM TKE DEATH OF ST* PAUL 

as he was still extremely anxious for the preservation of 
the sanctuary, he caused the fire to be extinguished, 
and appeased the clamors of his troops who had 
loudly insisted on the necessity of rasing; it to the 
ground. 

The prediction of Christ* however, was hastening to 
its accomplishment, ?tnd the boast of Judea was soon in- 
volved in the threatened calamity : for, whilst Titus 
was reposing in his tent, a Roman soldier threw a 
lighted torch into one of the private apartments ad- 
joining to the most holy place. The whole north side 
was immediately enveloped in flames, and the Roman 
troops began to carry off all the costly vestments and 
utensils, whilst Titus, who had been awakened by the 
noise, contemplated the sanctuary with inexpressible 
admiration, and lamented his inability to stop the spread- 
ing conflagration. 

A horrid massacre now ensued, in which prodigious 
multitudes of the inhabitants perished, whilst others 
rushed, in a kind of frenzy, into the midst of the flames, 
or precipitated themselves from the battlements of 
their falling temple. Six thousand persons who had 
been deluded thither by a false prophet were involved 
in this dreadful calamity j and the victors continued to 
mark their progress with fire and sword, till they had 
utterly destroyed the whole of the temple, except two 
gates and a part of the court which had been for- 
merly appropriated to the use of the female wor* 
6hippers. 

Meanwhile Titus made great preparations for at- 
tacking the upper city, and on the eighth day of Septem- 
ber the warlike engines played with such irresistible fury 



TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 295 

upon the zealots, that the place was soon taken by as- 
sault. At this melancholy juncture the incendiaries who 
had involved their country in ruin, ran, like madmen, 
towards Shiloah, in the vain hope of breaking through 
the wall of circumvallation ; but they were vigorously 
repulsed by the Romans, and obliged to hide themselves 
in the common* sewers^ while their unfortunate breth- 
ren were either cut to pieces or reserved to grace the 
victor's triumph. 

A. D. When the dreadful work of massacre and 
73. pillage was finished, Titus issued out orders 
for the entire demolition of the city, with all its edifices, 
towers, walls and fortifications, except a small part of 
the western wall and the towers of Phasael, Hippicos, 
and Mariamne, which were prudently left to give an 
accurate idea to future generations, of the amazing 
strength of the city, and the great exertions of its 
conqueror. 

Titus, having thus executed the vengeance of God 
upon this polluted capital, returned in triumph to Rome ; 
and the subsequent destruction of three fortresses, by 
Lucilius Bassus, terminated a war, in which one million 
four hundred and sixty two thousand Jews were either 
slain or taken prisoners. Of those who escaped assas- 
sination by submitting to the Romans, eleven thou- 
sand perished for want, either through their own de- 
spair, or the negilgence of their keepers ; and ninety 

* John and Simon, the two great leaders of the rebellion, 
were dragged from their hiding' places, and sent, in chains, 
to Rome, where they received the due reward of their abom- 
inable crimes. 



300 PROM THE DEATH OF ST. PAUL, Sec. 

seven thousand were exposed to fight, like gladiators, 
in a public amphitheatre, or to be devoured by wild 
beasts. 

Such was the awful catastrophe of a city and nation 
which had rendered themselves obnoxious to the wrath 
of heaven, by a long succession of crimes, and which, 
in the language of our Blessed Redeemer; had " dis* 
regarded the day of their visitation." 



INDEX. 



A >*. 

JxDAMand Eve placed in the "Garden of Eden - 3 
Their felicity destroyed by Satan - - ibid 
Their unhappy situation after their trans- 
gression * ■- -4* 
They are driven from the Garden - 5 
Abel birth of ibid. 
His murder - t 
-•Adam* 8 death - • <- 9 
yAbram and Sarai his wife 19 
His separation from Lot - - 20 
He rescues Lot from Chedorlaomer - 2 1 
He is promised a Son - ibid 
God's Covenant with him - - 22 
His and his wife's name changed - - 23 
Abraham entertains his heavenly guests - - 24 
He pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah - %5 
His oath to Abimclech - * - 29 
He is ordered to sacrifice Isaac - - 3ft 
He sends to Nahorfor a wife for Isaac - 32 
He marries Keiurah - - 35 
i#$ age and death - 34 
Aaron is apfiointed interpreter to A&ses * - 71 
Amalekites defeated by Joshua * - - 85 
Aaron stayeth the plague '- - - 95 
Ac han fiunished for sacrilege - - 108 
■•A' tato £y stratagem ~ ibid 
C C 



302 Index. 

*age 

Abimelech assassinates the seventy sons of Gideon 124 

His subjects revolt and he is killed - 125 

Ark taken by the Philistines - - - 132 

2/ is sent back, fifty thousand struck dead 133 

jigag is hewn in pieces - - - i 40 

jibner proclaims Ishbosheth king - - - 1 50 

He is assassinated by Joab - - 151 

Absalom slays Ammon - - - - 1 55 

He revolts from his father - - ibid 

AhithophcVs counsel - - - 157 

Absalom violates the Concubines * - ibid 

He is defeated end slain - - - 158 

Adonijah usurps the throne - - 1 6 1 

Ahab king of Israel - - - - -171 

He persecutes the Prophets - • 172 

He and Jezebel threatened - - - 1 75 

He is slain according to Elijah 9 s prediction 176 
Ahaziah succeeded Ahab ... ibid 
Abijam succeeded Rehoboam, his victory over Jero- 
boam - - - - - 186 
Asa succeeded Abijam - * ibid 

His good reign - ibid 

Ahaziah succeeded Jehoram - - - 189 

Amaziah succeeded Joash king of Judah - - 191 

Azariah succeeded Amaziah - - ibid 

Ahaz succeeded Jot ham - - - - - 192 
Arta xerxes* commission - - - - -209 

Alexander leads his troops against Jerusalem - 215 

Antiochus butchered eighty thousand Jews - - 223 

He ordered Apollonius to slay all the male 

Jews * - -' - ibid 

He forbid circumcision and the Jewish rites 224 

Hie incurable disease - - - £2$ 



Index. 303 

Page 

Aristobulus succeeded John in the Jewish Govern- 
ment - - - - - 235 
His tyranny and death -' - - ibid 
Alexander succeeded him, he suppressed a rebellion ibid 
Alexandra guardian to Alexander's sons - - 237 
Alexander son of Aristobuluw - - - 239 
Antifiater - 240 
Antigonus son of Aristobulus - - -241 
Angels announced the birth of Christ - - 246 
Anna and Simon firofihesy of Christ - -247 
A fiostles filled with the Holy Ghost and inspired 

With a knowledge of foreign tongues - - 27fc 
They are thrown into /iris on and delivered 

by an angel - ... 273 

They determine- about circumcision - * 285 

R 

Benjamin, birth of • - • - 47 

Balaam's blessing on Israel - - - - 101 

Benjafnites 9 wickedness - - - - 1 1 8 

Baasha's alliance with the king ofJudah - - 170 

He and his descendants are destroyed - 171 

Barnabas and Mark sail for Cyfiru9 - - 285 

C 

Creation of the world - I 

The firmament, sun, moon, and stars - 2 

Man and woman - ibid 

Cain birth of - - - 5 

Circumcision commanded - - - 25 
Caleb burnt Jerusalem and vanquished the sons of 

Anak - - «... 115 

Cyrus fiermits the Jews to rebuild the- temple - 205 

Cceaarians murder 20,000 Jews - 292 



304 Index. 

D 

Deluge n - - . : . it 

Danites conquer Laish and build Dan * - 1 17 

Deborah and Jael deliver the Israelites - - 120 

Dagon falleth down before the ark - - - 132 

Da-vld killeth Goliath. - . - 1431 

David and Jonathan's friendship, - - , ibid 

He is persecuted by Saul - ibid 

His followers in exile - 145 

Mis -vow to Jonathan . t - ibid 

He cutteth off Saul y s skirt - - 146 

His message to Nabal * - - 147 

He marries Abigail - - - ibid 

He refused to kill Saul, took his spear and 

£Tuse - - - - 147 

He smiteth the Amalekites - - 149 

He is anointed king of Judah - - 150 

He defcateth Ishbosheth in battle * ibid 

He is anointed king over Israel - • 151 

He taketh Zicnfrom the Jebusites - 152 

He bringeth the ark to Jerusalem . - ibid 
He chastised Hanun king of the Ammonites 153 

He committed adultery - - 154 

He fed from Jerusalem - - 156 

He returns to Jerusalem ^ - 159 

He numbered the people - 1 60 

He chooses the three days pestilence - ibid 

He causes Solomon to be made king - 1 6 1 

His charge to Solomon ^ - * 162 

His age and death , . - ibid 

Darius decrees the building the temple «* - 208 

E 

Enoch, City of - 8 

Snoch translated to heaven - * ; « ' • . • 9 



Index. SOS 

Esau and Jacob are born - - S4 

J£sa« $f//s /lis birthright to Jacob " - - - z&c/ 

i& marries two Hittites ... #/(£ 

Egypt afflicted with plagues ~ - - 76 

Egyptians drowned - - - 82 

Eleazar is invested with the priesthood - - 96 

J£/i a firiest and judge in Israel - - ,12/ 

His sons are slain - - - 132 

Elijah live th with the widow and her sons - 172 

J7e restored the widow's son to life - ifo'c? 

7Z<? assembles the Israelites together with 

the priests of Baal - - 173 

His sacrifice and prayer to God - - 174 

ElUha- prophesied plenty - - - 178 

i/e senf a prophet to anoint Jehu - 176 

Ezra goeth up to Jerusalem - -- - 209 

He governed Israel - - - 2iO 

G 

Goshen given for the settlement of Jacob 9 s sons - 53 

Gib eonites' craft — — - - - 109 

Gideon is called the saviour of his people - 121 

He attacks and destroys the Midianites 123 

Gamaliel's counsel - - - — - 278 

H 

Hagar given to Abraham - - - - 22 

An angel appears to her - 23 

She gave birth to Ishmael -■ - ibid 
She is sent from Abraham's house with 

Ishmael^ who becomes an archer - 28 

Hosea king of Israel - - - - - 18o 
He is taken by Salmaneser, who destroys 

Samaria - - - - 184 
. Hezekiah succeeded Ahaz - - - - 193 
His pious reign and deliverance from Sen- 
nacherib - - - - 196 

c c 2 



$06 Index* 



Pagd 



Heliodorus commissioned to take money from the 

sanctuary » - * - 22 1 
Hyrcan and Aristobulus quarrel) and occasion the 

loss of the Jewish liberty - - - 23$ 
lie rod placed en the throne of Judea - - 242 
He took Jerusalem and massacred its in- 
habitants - ibid 
He amassed great riches and rebuilt the 

temple - 244 
His cruel order for the destruction of chil- 
dren - - - - 247 
Holy Ghost descended on Christ - . 249 
JZerod beheaded James - * - - 283 
He is smitten with a mortal disease - ibqi 
I 
gsaac? the child offlro?pise 9 is bom 27 
He obtains Rebecca for his wife 33 
His league with Abimelech 36 
He blesses Jacob - - 37 
He blesses Esau - * - 38 
His age and death m - - 47 
JsraePs oppression - - - 66 
They are delivered from bondage with a 
strong arm—4heir march through the 
wilderness • 80 
idolatry of the Israelites ?■ - - 88 
They are allured by the Moabitish women 10 1 
Israelites cross Jordan - - - - 105 
Jacob goes to Padan Aram to take a wife - 39 
He saw a ladder , in a dream, reaching from 
Heaven to earth, and angels ascending 
Mid descending upon it - • ibid 



Index. S07 

Page 

Jacob serves his kinsman Labanfor his two daughters 40 

His departure from Padan Aram - 42 

He is pursued and overtaken by Laban + ibid 

He sends a messenger to Esau - 44 

He wrestled with an angel, who changed 

his name to Israel - - 45 

Joseph is born - - - - 41 

Jacob 9 s interview with Esau - 45 

He came to his father - 47 

Joseph beeome an object of hatred to his brethren ibid 

He is sold to the Ishmaelites and carried to 

Egypt - 4a. 
He is sold to Potiphar, whose wife was cap* 

tivated with his beauty * - 49 

He is accused and cast into prison - ibid 
He predicted the fate of the chief Butler 

and chief Baker - 50 

He interprets the dream of Pharaoh ibid 
He foretells the seven years of plenty, and 

the seven years of famine - - 51 
He is appointed overseer of Egypt, and 

called a Revealer of Secrets - ibid 

He marries the daughter of Potipherah ibid 

The seven years of plenty expire, and the 

famine commences - - ibid 

Israel sends two of his sons to Egypt to buy corn ibid 

They are treated with severity, and Simeon 

is detained a hostage - - 53 

Israel sends a second time to Egypt to buy 

corn, when Joseph makes himself known 

to his brethren - - - 56 

Jacob journeyed to Egyp!~-his interview with Joseph 58 

His benediction on Managseh and Ephraim 60 

His afidress to his sons « - 61 



308 Index. 

Jacob's age and death - - • - 64 

Joseph, his age and death - - . 114 

Jericho is taken ----- 107 

Joshua smiteth the Jive kings, who besiege Gibeon 109 

He overcomes many kings at Mimron 111 

He conquered the whole of Canaan, and di~ 

vided the inheritance - - 112 

His age and'death - - - 114 

Israelites subjected to Cushan - - 119 

Jot ham 9 sparable - - - - 124 

Jephthah delivered Israel from oppression - 126 

He sacrificed his only daughter * ibid 

Israelites ask a king of Samuel - - 134 

Jonathan pleads for David - - 144 

Israelites overthrown by the Philistines - 149 

Ishbosheth murdered by his two captains - 151 

Joah is reinstated in his command * - 159 

Jeroboam is made king - - - 169 

He erected two golden calves - - ibid 

His hand is withered - - ibid 

Jehoram succeeded Ahaziah - - 177 

His victory over the Moabites - ibid 

Jehu is anointed - - - - 179 

He commanded that the heads of the young 

princes should be sent him in a basket 180 

Joash king of Israel— -He took Amaziah - 181 

Jeroboam king of Israel . - - 182 

Jehoshaphat succeeded Asa king of Judah - 187 

Jehoram succeeded Jehoshaphat - - 188 

Joash is made king - - - - 189 

Jotham succeeded Azariah - - 192 

Josiah succeeded Amon - - - 1 99 

He destroyed idolatry - - ibid 



Index. 309 

Page 

Jehoiakim king of Judah~he imprisoned Jeremiah 20 I 

Judas Maccabeus overthrew Appollonius n 226 
He obtained a victory over JVicanor and 

Gorgias * ibid 

He restores divine worship in the temple 227 

Jonathan succeeded Judas— -he was assassinated 231 

John succeeded Simon - - * 233 

He renounced allegiance to the Syrian 

crown - ibid 

Judea becomes a Roman province - - 23& 

It is a theatre of discord and carnage , of 

every crime and every distress from 237 to 245 

Jesus Christ is born of the virgin Mary - ibid 

Josefih with Mary and Jesus goes into Egypt 247 

jJesus converses with the doctors in the temple 248 

John preaches repentance and the Messiah - ibid 

He baptized Christ - 249 

Jesus goes into the wilderness and overcomes temp* 

tation ^ - - - -250 

He called some of his disciples - ibid 

He turned water into wine - - ibid 

He began his ministry - - ibid 

John affirms that Christ is from Heaven T 251 

He is executed by Herod -. - ibid 

Jesus %ur9itght many miracles in Judea - ibid 

His extraordinary wisdom offends Ndza- 

renes • ibid 
He heals a demoniac, and raises Peter's 

mother « - - 252 

He preaches from Peter's ship - , ibid 
He causes a great draught offshes to be 

taken - - • * . ibid 

He healed a poor man of a paralytic ibid 

He called Matthe w -» - 253 



310 Index. 

Page 

Jesus restored a man y s withered hand <* 25 3" 

He ordained his twelve disciples - 254 

He healed the Centurion 9 s servant - 255 

He raised the son of a fioor widow - ibid 

His feet are anointed by Mary - ibid 

He commanded the sea and the wind to be 

still - - - 256 

He casteth out the legion of devils - 257 

He sendeth out his afiostles ! - - ibid 

Hefeedethfive thousand - ' - ibid 

He walketh upon the waves - 258 

He foretold his sufferings and death 259 

His transfiguration - 260 

His judgment of an adultr ess - 261 

He cured a man that was born blind 262 

He ^raised Lazarus - - 263 

Jews determine to put Jesus to death - - ibid 

Jesus rideth to Jerusalem - - 264 

He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem 

and the Temple - - 265 

He is glorified - - *■ 266 

He eateth the Passover^ and instituted the 

Supper - - - - ibid 

He is betrayed and denied - - 267 

He is accused before Pilate^ delivered to be 

crucified - - - 268 

Judas hanged himself - * - 269 

Jesus is crucified . - - - 270 

His body is buried in a tomb - 272 

His resurrection - *•'■•' ~* ^id 

He appeared to the apostles - 2Z# 

He commanded them to baptize and preach 

to all nations - 274 



Index. 311 

Page 

Jesus' benediction m kis church - - 275 
He ascended to Heaven * - ibid 
James is assassinated - - - 191 
John is banished to the Isle of Patmos - ibid 
Josejihus is governor of Judea - - 293 
Jerusalem besieged forty seven years - - ibid 
It is demolished - 299 
Jews, one million four hundred and sixty two thou- 
sand slain and taken prisoners - ibid 
Jesus Christ's predictions fulfilled - 298 ^299 

K 
Korah, Dathan and Abiram, consfiire against Moses 93 

They and their party are swallowed up. 94 
L 

Lot entertains two Angels . - 26 
He is warned of the destruction of 

Sodom and Gomorrah - - ibid 

His wife is c/mnged to a pillar ofmlt ibid 

Levi is born - - - - 41 

M 

Miraculous operation of the Holy Trinity - 3 

Methuselah's age 9 

Man's impiety and degeneracy 10 

Moses is born 67 
He is enclosed in an ark and committed to 

the Nile - - ibid. 
He is adopted by Pharaoh's daughter for 

her son - - - ibid 

He rescued an Hebrew from an Egyptian 68 

He fled to Midian ... 69 

He married Zipporah the daughter of Jethro 

firiest of Midian ... ibid 



312 Index. 

Page 
He is commanded by God to demand of P ha* 

raoh the liberation of his countrymen 69 

Hvs rod is transformed into a serfient * 70 
he encouraged the Israelites with the hofits 

of deliverance *■ *• ibid 

He delivered God's message to Pharaoh ibid 

His rod is turned into a serfient - 73 

He turns the waters of Egyfit into blood ibid 

He wrought many miracles for the deliverance 

of the Israelites - 75 

Manna^the bread\sent the Israelites - - 84 

Moses smiteth the rock in Horeb » ibid 

He receives the ten commandments in tables 

of stone on Mount Sinai * : 87 

He continues on the Mount forty days 90 
He is excluded from entering the land of 

jxromise - * * 95 

He numbered the Israelites - 102 

He afifiointed Joshua his successor ~ 103 

Midianites are conquered - - 104 

Moses distributes the land of Canaan - ibid 

His age and death - *• 105 

Micatfs idolatry - * - 116 

Menaham king of Israel $ his cruelty - ibid 

Manasseh succeeded Hezekiah * - 197 

He is carried to Babylon in chains - 198 

Matthias delivered the Jews * - 225 

N 

JVbah and his family went into the Ark - 1 1 

His sacrifice - » - 14 

His intemfierance *■ * 15 

His age and death - - 1 6 

Nahab and Abihu struck dead ~ * 31 



Index. 313 

Page 

Nathan's fiarable - - - 154 

JVadab succeeds Jeroboam - - 170 

Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem 203 

Nehemiah's commission to succeed Ezra - 210 

He builds the walls of Jerusalem - ibid 

O 

OthnieVs success and reward - - 115 

Omri king ofJudah - - - 171 

He founded the city of Samaria - ibid 

Ochus takes Jericho - - - 215 

Onias 9 Priesthood - 2 IS 

P 

Pharaoh sends for Jacob and his family - 5/ 

Pharaoh's cruel edict - - - 65 

Passover instituted -. - - 73 

Pillar of fire guides the Israelites - - 80 

Pharaoh pur sueth the Israelites - ~ ? 81 

Philistines totally defeated - * 134 

Philistine Warrior - * * 141 

Pekahiah king of Israel « - - 183 

JWer a^ /o/ta healed a poor cripple - 277 

Peter preaches the divinity of Christ * ibid 

Peter and John cast into prison - - 277 

They go to Samaria - '■> - 280 

Peter baptizes Cornelius - -■ - - 282 
He is thrown into prison and liberated by an 

Angel ■ - - - 283 

Paul healed a poor cripfile - - 285 

He went with Silas to Syria and Cilicia ibid 

Paul cast out an evil spirit - - 286 

He is imprisoned •« ' - - ibid 

He is liberated by an earthquake Mid 
D D 



514 Index* 

Page 
Paul dispute £ nvith the Jews and Philosophers 

at Athens - 28? 

He preached at Corinth - - ibid 

He raised a young man at IVoas - 288 

He is seized at Jerusalem - - 289 

His oration in his defence - - ibid 

He is accusid before Felix - - 209 

His address to king Agrippa - - ibid 

He shakes a viper from his hand - ibid 

He preaches at Rome - - - 291 

He is beheaded by JVero - ibid 

Peter is crucified ----- ibid 

Q 

Quails are sent to the camp of the Israelites - 83 

R 

Religion is maintained - - * - 10 

Jteuben is born > - - - - - - 40 

M&chel's death ; a monument to her memory - 47 

piehoboam's insolencg makes ten tribes revolt - 168. 

S 

Sqbbath instituted -*•*.. g 

JSeth birth of - • r - - ,. g 

§W$s of JVbahy Jafihet^ Shetn and Ham • - 16 

They propose to build -Babel - - 18 

Their language confused - ibid 

tiodotn and Gomorrah destroyed - - - 26 

Simeon born - - - - 40 

Shechem enamoured with Dinah - - 4t 

Simeon and Levi massacre all the male Shechemites 46 

Serpents are sent into the camp of the Israelites 97 

Sjihon and Og vanquished and stain -, 99 

Sun and the moon stand still - - 110 

Sa?npso?i f s great strength - - 1 28 



Index. 315 

Page 

Sampson 9 s extraordinary exploits - - 131 

Samuel dedicated to God - ibid 

He prophesied the death of Eli and his sons ibid 

Saul is appointed king - -- - - 135 

His victory over Nahash - - 136 

Samuel condemned Saul - - - - 138 

Saul and Jonathan's triumph over the Philistines ibid 

Samuel annointed David king of Israel - 140 

Saul tormented with an evil spirit - - ibid 

His jealousy towards David - - 143 

He and his messengers prophesy - 144. 

His command to kill the priests - - 145 

Samuel, death of - - - 146 

Saul seeketh the witch of Endor - - - 149 

Saul and his sons slain - ■ - • ibid 

Solomon is born - - - 155 

He is annointed king - - 161 

He executes, his father's will - 162 

His prayer * - - 163 

His judgment between two harlots - ibid 

His riches, wisdom and glory - 1 64 

He builds the temple - - ibid 

Be dedicates the temple - - - 165 

Sheba visits Solomon - - - ibid 

Solomon, Idolatry of -- - - 167 

His age and death - • ibid 

Sun goeth backward - • - 195 
Simon succeeded Jonathan in the government of 

the Jews - 232 

He is made sovereign prince - ibid 

He routed the Syrian army - - 233 

Star led the wise men to Christ - 246 

Stephen is stoned to death - - 279 



316 Index. 

Page 

Saul persecutes the Apostles - - '280 

He is converted and chosen to preach 281 

Saul and Barnabas preach to the Gentiles - 284 

Saul first called Paul - - ibid 

T 

Tree of knowledge - « - - 3 

Temple destroyed and burnt ' - 203 

Temple is rebuilt - - - - 206 

Temple of Janus is shut - - - 245 

Titus succeeds Vespasian in the siege of Jerusalem 295 
He endeavours to persuade the Jews to lay 

down their arms - - 296 

He utterly destroys Jerusalem - 297 
Hefir^d the temple which is burnt to the 

ground - • • - - - - 298 

Titus returns to Rome - - - - 299 

U 

Uriah is slain - - - - - ' ~ 154 

V 

Vespasian marches against the Jews * - 293 

He is elected Emperor of Rome - 294 

W 

Worship of the Israelites instituted. * -' 9\ 



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Treatment Date: May 2005 

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